Chapter 21 Chapter 17 Challenge

They set out under the light of the stars, and did not rest until the stars appeared in the sky again.Bruno needs no support.On the contrary.The dwarf recovered from his delirium, his eyes finally focused on the real goal he had been looking for for a long time, and he drove everyone forward with the most urgent speed since leaving Icewind Dale.His eyes were glazed over, walking between the past and the present at the same time, distracted from both sides, draining his mind.He had been dreaming of this return for two hundred years, and the last few days on the road seemed longer than the previous centuries.

The gang has clearly defeated their worst enemy: time.If their calculations at Hermit's Keep were correct, Mithril Hall was just a few days away, and the short summer was only half over.When time was no longer a source of pressure, Drizzt, Wulfgar, and Regis all expected to move at a moderate pace when they left Hermit Hold.But when Bruno woke up and learned of their discovery, he probably wouldn't listen to anyone's opinion at all, and just wanted to keep going.However, no one dared to really suggest walking slower, because in the excitement, Bruno's already bad temper got worse.

"Keep moving, don't slow down!" he kept shouting to Regis, the halfling's short legs unable to keep up with the frantic pace of the dwarf. "You should stay in Ten-Towns with your big belly protruding from your belt!" the dwarf murmured softly, pushing himself forward, his ears deaf to any rebuttals from Regis, or Worf. plus any criticism of Drizzt's actions. They turned back to the Loffin, using its waters as their guide.Drizzt convinced Bruenor to turn northwest as soon as the mountains came into view.The dark elf didn't want to meet any more patrols from Nesme, he believed it was the city's warnings that kept Alustriel from letting him into Silvermoon.

Bruno hadn't been able to relax in camp that night, even though they were clearly well over half way to the ruins of Hard Rock.He paced around the tent like a trapped animal, clenching and relaxing his gnarled fists, muttering to himself about his people being driven out of Mithril Hall Day of Doom, and how one day he'll come back for vengeance. "Was it the potion?" Wulfgar asked Drizzt later that night, as they stood by the camp watching the dwarves. "Perhaps in part," replied Drizzt, who was also thinking about his friend. "The potion forced Bruno to relive the most traumatic experience of his long life. Now, as memories of the past entered his emotions, they fueled a desire for revenge that had been dormant for years."

"He's scared," Wulfgar noticed. Drizzt nodded. "He is going through the trials of his life. He regards his oath to return to Mithril Hall as more important than his own existence." "He's pushing too hard," Wulfgar remarked, watching Regis, who had collapsed from exhaustion. "Halflings can't keep up." "We'll be there in less than a day's walk," Drizzt replied. "Regis will live on the road, just like us." He patted the barbarian on the shoulder, and Wulfgar, though not entirely satisfied, took a step back to accept the fact that there was nothing he could do to change the dwarf, and walked away to rest up.Drizzt looked back at the pacing dwarf, his dark face watching the dwarf with more concern than he showed to the young savage.

Drizzt really wasn't worried about Regis.A halfling can always find a way to get through adversity beyond his strength.Bruenor, however, annoyed the dark elf.He still remembers when the dwarves made the mighty warhammer Aegisfang.This weapon is the most outstanding workmanship in Bruno's rich crafting career, and it can be said that it is a legendary weapon.Bruno couldn't have expected himself to do anything better than this, or even at an equal level.He never put his blacksmith's hammer on cobalt again. Now they are on their way to the Halls of Mithril, Bruenor's lifelong goal.Just as The Fang of Aegis is his best work, this trip is the pinnacle of his life.Drizzt's preoccupations were on matters more trivial, or perhaps more dangerous, than the success or failure of the adventure; the perils of the road affected each of them equally, and they had readily accepted it before setting off.Whether or not these ancient halls can be recovered, Bruno will reach the pinnacle of his life.Then his hour of glory will pass away.

"Calm down, good friend," Drizzt said, walking towards the dwarf. "This is my home, Elf!" Bruno retorted, but he did seem to have calmed down a bit. "I understand," Drizzt said. "It seems like we should really take a good look at the Halls of Mithril, and this raises a question we must answer right away." Bruenor watched him curiously, though he knew exactly what Drizzt was referring to. "For a long time, we have only cared about finding the Hall of Mithril, but we haven't talked about our plans after we go in." "By rightful right, I am the King of Mithril Hall," Bruenor growled.

"I agree," said the dark elf, "but what kind of dark power is left in it? There is a power that has driven all of you out of the mine. Are the four of us going to defeat it?" "Perhaps it has gone by itself, Elf," said Bruno in a dark tone, unwilling to face the other possibility. "To the best of our knowledge, those halls should be empty." "Maybe. But if it's still there, what are you going to do?" Bruno paused for a second to think. "We sent word to Icewind Dale," he answered. "Next spring, my people will come to join us."

"Probably can barely gather a hundred strong men." Drizzt reminded him. "If more people are needed, I'll call Adeba's people!" Bruno snapped. "As long as you promise to give some treasures, King Habrun will gladly come to help!" Drizzt knew Bruenor wouldn't be making such an agreement anytime soon, but he decided to put an end to these annoying yet obligatory questions. "Sleep well," he said good night to the dwarf, "and when you must find out, you will." They ran at the same speed the next morning.It was not long before the mountains began to tower above them, and another change took place in the dwarves.He stopped suddenly, feeling dizzy and struggling to keep his balance.Wulfgar and Drizzt supported him beside him.

"What's going on?" Drizzt asked. "Dairo the Dwarf," said Bruenor in a voice that seemed long gone.He pointed to a rock jutting out of the ground at the foot of the nearest hill. "You know this place?" Bruno didn't answer.He started walking again, stumbling, but refusing any help.His friends shrugged helplessly and followed. An hour later, the building came into view.Like a huge house made of cards, large stone slabs are skillfully stacked together to form a house. Although it has been abandoned for more than a hundred years, the seasons and strong winds have not destroyed them.Only the dwarves could pour such power into the rocks, and pile the stones so perfectly that the houses would stand like the mountains, beyond the legends of generations and bards, so that future generations can live in the same way. View their buildings in awe and wonder, leaving no doubt as to who built them.

Bruno remembered.He roamed the village as it had been so many years ago, tears starting to form on the rims of his gray eyes, and he began to shiver at the thought of the dark forces that had swarmed to drive their kind. His friends made him look around a little, not wanting to interrupt the solemn mood that broke through his dull senses and let them find their way.Finally, as the afternoon wore on, Drizzt walked up to him. "Do you know the way?" he asked. Bruno looked up at a trail that went up the nearest hill. "It will take half a day." He replied. "Camp here?" Drizzt asked. "It's good for me," Bruno said. "I have much to think about, Elf. I will not forget the way, fear not." His eyes narrowed to follow the path he took that dark day when he fled, and he whispered, "I will never again This path will never be forgotten."    Bruenor's rushing speed was a blessing to their group of friends, for Pork easily started following the dark elf's trail as soon as he was out of Silvermoon, and led his group of companions at the same pace.They passed the Hermit's Fort. Although the tower's magic protection would not allow them to approach under any circumstances, the Golem and his party did walk a lot. In the tent not far away, Entreri grinned wickedly, watching the dark horizon and the dim light of his prey's campfire. Catti-brie saw it too, and she knew that the next day would bring her greatest challenge.She spent most of her life with the warlike dwarves, raised under the protection and education of Bruenor himself.He taught her self-discipline and confidence.It's not an outward ego that hides inner insecurities, it's real self-confidence and the ability to measure what you can and can't do.It wasn't the fear of failure that kept her awake that night, but the hunger for a challenge. They broke camp early the next day and reached the ruins just after dusk.Although they were no more anxious than Bruno and his party, they only found the remains of the campfire left by this group of friends. "An hour, maybe two hours," Entreri observed, bending down to feel the heat of the embers. "Pork has found new footprints." Sydney said, she pointed to the footsteps and moved under the nearest mountain range, and the golem of a certain hill said. A smile filled Entreri's face as the excitement of the hunt swept over him.However, Catti-brie still didn't pay much attention to him, she was more concerned about the message on Gildan's face. The sergeant was not sure about himself.When Sydney and Entreri started to walk behind Pork, he followed immediately, but he stepped hard.It was clear that he didn't want the necessary meeting as much as Sydney or Entreri. Catti-brie was beginning to find it amusing. They sprinted until morning, avoiding the stream and the big pebbles, and started walking up the hill.Then, two years after Entreri began his search, he saw his quarry for the first time. The Killer crossed a cobblestone knoll, then slowed down in a sloping recess and entered a wooded valley, while Bruno and his friends were clearing obstacles far ahead, Go up a steep hill.Entreri crouched down, and motioned for the others to follow him slowly. "Tell the golem to stop," he called to Sydney, for Pork had disappeared into the undergrowth, and would turn the other side in an instant, reach the next barren knoll, and be clearly seen by the companions. Sydney ran up. "Pork, come back to me!" she cried, as loudly as she dared, for though the group ahead were far away, the echoes in the valley seemed to go on forever. Entreri pointed to the moving speck on the side of the mountain ahead towards them. "We can catch them before they get to the other side of the mountain," he told Sydney.He leaped back to Gildan and Catti-brie, and roughly twisted Catti-brie's hand behind her back. "If you cry out, you'll see your friends die," he assured her. "And then you yourself will end your life in the most uncomfortable way." Catti-brie wore the most terrified look on her face, happy the whole time that the killer's last threat had failed her.She had moved beyond the fear the killer had instilled in her when she first met Entreri in Ten-Towns.She had overcome her natural fear of the ruthless killer, convincing herself that he was just a human after all. Entreri pointed to the valley below the companions. "I'm going to cross this mountain stream," he explained to Sydney, "and make first contact with them. You and the golem continue down the road, leaning in from behind." "What about me?" Gildan protested. "You stay here with the girls!" Entreri said absently, as if ordering his servant.He turned away, refusing to listen to any counterargument. Sydney didn't even turn to look at Gildan while she waited for Polk to return.She didn't have time to spend this kind of quarrel, and she figured that if Gildan couldn't speak for himself, then he wasn't worth her troubles. "Act now," Catti-brie whispered to Gildan, "for you, and for me!" He looked at her more curiously than angry, and open to any suggestion of changing his uneasy situation. Unable to parry. "The mage threw away all respect for you," Catti-brie continued. "The killer has taken your place, and she would rather be on his side. This is your chance to act, and if what my eyes tell me is right, this is your last chance! This is for the mage to see you The time has come, Sergeant Luskan!" Gildan watched her nervously.Although he had anticipated the woman's tricks, her words were true enough to convince him that her assessment of the situation at hand was correct. His pride triumphed.He turned to Catti-brie and slapped her to the ground, then ran past Sydney, after Entreri. "Where are you going?" Sydney called after her, but Gildan was no longer interested in pointless conversation. Surprised and confused, Sydney turned back to inspect the captives.Catti-brie had expected this, she rolled on the hard rock and moaned, as if she had been beaten to the point where she couldn't feel it, but in fact she turned enough just now that Gildan just brushed her .She was still fully awake and sane, and her movements were calculated to move to the appropriate position, allowing her bound hands to go around her feet and come to the front of her body. Sidney was satisfied with Catti-brie's actions, so the wizard put all his energy into the upcoming confrontation.Hearing Gildan approach, Entreri turned to face him, dagger and saber drawn. "I told you to stay with the girls!" he said dissatisfied. "I'm not here to guard your captives!" Gildan retorted, his sword drawn. Entreri's characteristic smile crept across his face again. "Go back," he said to Gildan one last time, yet he knew, and he was glad the proud sergeant would not turn back. Gildan took another step closer. Entreri struck. Gildan was a seasoned fighter, and if Entreri expected to finish him off with a single blow, he was mistaken.Gildan's sword made the move, and then countered with a blow. Since Sydney was well aware of Entreri's apparent contempt for Gildan, and she also knew how proud the Sergeant could be, she had dreaded such a confrontation ever since she left Sorcerer's Tower.She didn't care that one of them died (Gildan, she assumed), but she couldn't stand anything that put her mission in jeopardy.After the dark elf is firmly in her hands, it doesn't matter how Feng Cuili and Gildan fight. "Go over there!" she said to the advancing golem. "Stop their fight!" Pork immediately turned around and rushed towards the two sides that were fighting, while Sydney shook her head in disgust, believing that the situation would be brought under control soon, and then they could continue hunting. What she didn't see was that Catti-brie stood up behind her. Catti-brie knew she only had one chance.She got up quietly, and slammed down on the back of the mage's neck with her hands that were still tightly bound.Sydney fell on the hard gravel, and Catti-brie ran past her and down into the bushes, blood rushing through her veins.She had to be close enough to shout a clear warning to her friends before her captors caught up. As soon as Catti-brie was in the thicket she heard Sydney gasp, "Pork!" The golem looked back at once, still some distance away from Catti-brie, but with each step they were getting closer. Even though Gildan and Entreri had seen her flee, they were too preoccupied with their own battles to pay attention to her now. "You must not insult me ​​again!" Gildan yelled over the clang of swords. "I want to!" Entreri sneered. "There are many ways to soil a corpse, fool, and you know I'll use every one of them on your rotting bones!" He drew closer, his mind directed at his opponent, his The blade gradually gained deadly power as it danced. Gildan fought him bravely, but the deadly killer easily picked up his every move with subtle parries and clever dodges.It didn't take long for the sergeant's feints and tricks to run out, and he couldn't even come close to attack his target.He'd be exhausted before Entreri, and he'd seen that clearly early on in the fight. They exchanged a few more strokes, Entreri's slashing faster and faster, while Gildan's twin swords slowed down.The sergeant wanted Sydney to interrupt them now.The weakness of his stamina was clearly exposed to Entreri, and he wondered why the mage hadn't said a word about the fight.He glanced around, despair deepening.Then he found Sydney lying face down on the stone floor. This is a good opportunity to get away with honor, he thought, but he actually cared more about himself. "Mage!" he called to Entreri. "We have to help her!" But his words seemed to be shouted to the deaf. "And girls!" Gildan yelled, hoping to interest the killer.He tried to break away from the fight, leaping back and lowering his sword. "We'll fight later," he declared threateningly, though he had no intention of fighting the killer again. Entreri didn't answer, but lowered his weapon accordingly.The ever-proud Sergeant Gildan turned to Sydney. A jeweled dagger was thrust into his back. Catti-brie stumbled, unable to keep her balance with her hands bound.Loose stones in the path caused her to slip and fall, and she fell to the ground more than once.As alert as a cat, she was on her feet again in no time. But Polk moved faster. Catti-brie fell again, rolling onto the top of the sharp rock.She began to slide down the steep slope of slippery rock, and when she heard the golem stamping the ground behind her, she knew she might not be able to outrun the monster any faster.She has no choice.Sweat stung her multiple scrapes and her eyes, and all her hope was gone.She ran on, her courage refusing the obvious end. Against her desperation and fear, she finds the strength to make another choice.Twenty feet downhill to her right was the remains of a thin, long-dead tree.At this moment, she has a plan in her heart, which is desperate, but it has given her enough hope to give it a try.She paused briefly to measure what was left of the dead tree, and then estimated the effect uprooting the thing would have on the stone. She backed up the slope a few feet, and waited, crouching for the impossible jump.Pork had crossed the top of the slope and was rushing down to her, sending stones flying everywhere with every thump of his foot.It stretched out its terrifying arms directly behind her. That's when Catti-brie jumped. She hooked the rope that bound her hands to the stump of the tree, and pressed her full weight against the support of the roots. Pork followed her awkwardly, completely unaware of her intentions.The dead tree fell, its web of dead roots uprooted from the ground, and the golem was unaware of the dangers of the situation.The loose stone began to shift and roll down, but Polk kept his focus on the prey. Catti-brie jumped forward and down, landing next to the group of sliding stones.She didn't try to get up, just continued to crawl and roll despite the pain, keeping as many inches away from the falling rock as possible.Her determination made her roll behind a thick oak tree, and she looked back up the hillside. She was just in time to see the golem buried under a ton of bouncing stones.