Chapter 27 Chapter Twenty-Two

The Ranger galloped in the wind, his ears filled with the whistling air.They come from the icebergs of the distant glaciers and seas of pack ice in the north.The summer is gone, and the short autumn is just a hasty passerby.Long, dark winters will reign here. Drizzt knew the changes in the tundra.Icewind Dale has his memories of ten years, and everything about this land has been memorized in his heart.He could tell what time of the year it was by the texture of the ground, and the difference would not exceed ten days.Now, the ground is getting harder and harder, but there is still a little moisture on the soles of the running feet, which is the last bit of mud left under the dry ground in the short summer.

In order to resist the biting cold wind, the ranger tightened his cloak.Though he was heavily clothed, and though he could hear nothing but the wind, drow's senses were as sharp as ever.In the open plains of Icewind Dale, dull creatures would never survive long.Drizzt saw the tracks of the tundra snow ape in several places, and he also found a scattered track extending far away, which should be left by a group of goblins.He was able to read the footprints and see where their owners had come from and where they were going.He didn't leave Kane Cone looking for a fight.To avoid those evil creatures.He will pay attention to these footprints.

It wasn't long before Drizzt found the footprints he was looking for.These two lines of footprints belong to the size of human feet. Their owners wore soft boots and walked at a slow speed, from which it can be seen that the hunter was sneaking before hunting.He noticed that the deepest part of the footprint was on the forefoot.This is the characteristic footprint of savages who walk toe-first, as opposed to the footprints left by ordinary people who strike the ground with their heels first.The ranger had infiltrated the barbarian camp last night.He originally wanted to talk to Leijak and Berksgar, but during the eavesdropping process, Drow learned that Berksgar was going out hunting with Leijak's son today, so he followed them all the way.Now he can be sure that these two sets of footprints belong to them.

Drizzt was the first to feel a twinge of unease when he heard that the two were going out hunting alone.Would Birxgar kill the child, thereby dealing an indirect blow to Regak? Drizzt quickly dismissed the foolish idea.He knew Berksga.For all their numerous differences, he was an honest and honorable man, never a murderer.Drizzt speculates that Birxgar's real intention may well be to gain the trust of Rejak's son and strengthen his power base in the Horde. Drizzt hid all night outside the bivouac.He departed at dawn and detoured north. Now, he found the footprints of two people.They were an hour ahead of him.But they were only moving at the pace of hunters, so Drizzt was sure he could overtake them in a few minutes.

After a while, the ranger slowed down.He found that the footprints of the two people separated, the smaller one turned westward, and the larger one continued northward.Drizzt chose the large footprint to follow, which he believed to be Birxja's.A few minutes later, he spotted the big savage.Birxga was kneeling on the tundra, building an arbor with his hands, looking northwest intently. Drizzt approached him cautiously and slowly.Drow found himself always nervous when confronted with this tyrannical man.Drizzt and Birxgar had argued several times in the past.At that time, he was Bruno's liaison officer with Hard Rock Town, and Burkeska was the ruler of Hard Rock Town.It's different now, Berksga has returned to his hometown, and he has nothing to ask of Bruno.This will most likely make him even more dangerous.

But because of this, he had to leave Kane Cone and deal with this more dangerous figure again.Slowly and noiselessly he crept to within a few yards of Berksga. "I salute you, Burksgar." The ranger's abrupt voice did not surprise the savage.Drizzt believed that Birxgar, who had returned to the tundra, had already felt his presence. Birxja stood up slowly, and turned to face Drizzt. Drizzt looked west.He saw a spot on the tundra in the distance. "Your hunting partner?" "Chista, son of Regak," replied Birxgar, "a good boy." "How is Regak?" Drizzt asked.

Birxja paused, the muscles in his cheeks tensed. "You're back in Icewind Dale." "Will Burksgar think it's a good thing?" "No." The answer was very straightforward. "The tundra is very vast, drow. It is so vast that we will never see each other." Birxgar turned around, as if there was nothing more to say to Drizzt, but Drizzt didn't intend to end it like this. "Why do you want this?" Drizzt asked him pretending not to know anything.Drow wanted Berksga to reveal his true thoughts, to see how deep the barbarian's rift with the dwarves and the Ten-Towns had become.Will they be able to share the tundra as companions without ever interacting with each other, or will they once again become irreconcilable enemies?

"Rejak called me a friend," Drizzt continued, "I do miss him so much after I've been away from the Vale for so many years." "Rejac is old," Birxgar said deadpan. "Rejak is the decision maker of the Horde." "No!" Birxja's reaction was quick and violent, but he quickly calmed down again.His smile told Drizzt that his negative answer had practical significance. "Rejak is no longer the Horde's decision maker." "Birx, then?" asked Drizzt. The big barbarian, still smiling, nodded. "I am the leader of my people again. I have righted the wrongs of Wulfgar and Rhaejak, and I have restored liberty to my people. We have no one to beg for mercy but our gods. We Now it’s back to the old days.”

These words made Drizzt think for a long time.The proud young man had fallen into a beautiful deception he had set for himself.Those old days, which Birxcar spoke of reverently, were not so carefree and charming as the big man imagined.Those days were full of wars, and tribes would often fight to the death just for some food.When winter comes.Savages would die from the cold and hunger, hunted for food by the snow apes of the tundra and the giant white bears along the coast of the Frozen Sea. Drow recognizes the dangers of such nostalgia.A person often only remembers the good old days and forgets the serious problems of the time.

"Now that Burks has become the decision maker of the tribe, will he lead his tribe to despair? To war?" "War does not always mean despair," said the barbarian grimly. "Are you so quick to forget the war we fought with you in accordance with Wulfgar's ideas when he was alive?" Drizzt didn't react to that.Of course he knew that was not the case.The drow war was not the same as the war Wulfgar fought.It was a totally unexpected incident.But at least from Burksgar's point of view, this statement is absolutely correct. "And before that, Wulfgar led the Horde to help your ungrateful friend regain the throne." Berksgar's words became more aggressive.

Drizzt stared sternly at Birxgar, who was still telling the truth.Drow found that he had no strong reason to refute him. They all noticed that the spot on the tundra was getting bigger. "We have found the fresh air on the tundra again." Birx added loudly in front of the young people who came, "We have returned to the old road, which is more suitable for us. Such a road Friendship with drow will not be tolerated." "You forget a lot," Drizzt said. "I still remember a lot of things." The barbarian man turned around and walked into the distance after he finished speaking. "You will be a good leader if you can carefully consider the benefits Wulfgar has brought to your people." Drizzt shouted after him. "Maybe Hardstone is not the place for you. But Ice The Dale of the Wind is harsher, and the people need allies here more than anywhere else." Berksga isn't slowing down.He walked up to Kista and walked right past him.The young man looked back at Birxga, wondering what had happened.When he looked back, he recognized Drizzt and hurried to the drow. "Hi, Kista," Drizzt said to him, "you've grown up all these years." Kista straightened up subconsciously when he heard Drizzt's comment.He felt very happy to be praised by Drizzt.Kista was just a child when Drizzt left Mithril Hall.He didn't know much about the drow then, but he did know that Drizzt was a legendary warrior. At one point, Drizzt and Katie walked into the Hungalow, a mead hall in Hardstone.Drizzt jumped onto the table and delivered a speech calling for an alliance between the barbarians and the dwarves.Although Birxgar always said that the drow should not be allowed into Hungalot, nor would people pay him any respect, Meadhall did pay Drizzt Do'Urden great respect that day, This is all because of Zall's strong combat skills. Kista also couldn't forget the story his father told him about Drizzt.In a vicious war against the people of Ten-Towns, the barbaric invading army was dealt a severe blow by Drizzt's appearance.After that battle, the barbarian population was drastically reduced.The ensuing winter brought even worse disasters to the survivors of the war.Especially those old people and children, they are likely to starve to death due to lack of enough hunters. But when the savage tribes moved westward with their herds, they often found fresh elk carcasses along the way, each with sparse and neat wounds.Drizzt did it, Regak and many of the old men remembered.The drow that once guarded the Ten-Towns are now guarding the barbarians.Neither Regak nor many of the older barbarians had forgotten what this act of kindness meant to the tribe of the barbarians at that time. "Nice to meet you," Kista replied, "It's great to have you back." "Not everyone sees it that way," Drizzt reminded him. Kista snorted and shrugged nonchalantly. "All I know for sure is that Bruenor will be delighted to see Drizzt Do'Urden." "And Katie," Drizzt added, "she came back with me." The young man nodded again.Drizzt could see that he wanted to say something other than greeting.He kept looking back at Berksga, their leader, who was leaving.There are clearly cracks in his loyalty to the leader. Finally, Kista sighed and turned back to stare directly at Drizzt.His inner struggle is palpable. "And many remember the real Drizzt Do'Urden." "And what about Bruno Warhammer?" Kista nodded. "Birksga leads the tribe, but not everyone agrees with every word he says." "Then let's hope Birxgar recalls those facts," Drizzt replied. Kista glanced back again, and he saw that Birxka had stopped and was turning to stare at him.The young savage understood what Birxgar was waiting for.He nodded slightly to Drizzt, turned around and ran towards the big barbarian without saying another word. Drizzt spent a long time considering the meaning of Kista's last look at him.The young man was only following Birxgar's wishes blindly, but he did not share his leader's ideas.Drizzt considered again what he should do.He wanted to go back to the barbarian camp to have a conversation with Regak, but it seemed pointless and even dangerous to do so now. Now, Berksga is the tribe's decision maker. ※※※※ As Drizzt raced north back to the Cone of Cairn, another traveler was making his way across the tundra, heading south of the mountain.Orator Reginclaw, with her heavy pack on her back, had only one goal in mind: the summit of the Spine of the World. Clinshinibon hung from a noose around the dwarf's waist, and was very happy.This treasure invades Starbucks' dreams every night.It communicated with the dwarf more gently and cunningly than it had ever communicated with any one.Clinshinibon had a respect for the dwarf and priest of the good god.Over the course of several weeks, it gradually sapped Stabber's resistance, convincing the dwarf that climbing the world's highest mountain was not a folly, but a great challenge. So Starber left the dwarf mine a few days ago and headed south resolutely.She has her weapon in hand, ready to destroy any monsters that stand in her way.Ready to climb any mountain. Now she was halfway near the red water lake, the southernmost of the three great lakes, and not yet close to the Spine of the World.Clinshinibon decided to keep quiet, for a few days meant nothing to this treasure that had passed through ages.When they reached the wilderness below those mountains, the treasure would find a more suitable dweller. But at this moment, Crystal Shard suddenly and unexpectedly sensed a powerful and familiar presence. A tanar'ol. Starbucks stopped, frowning in curiosity.The crystal at the waist was trembling, as if it were a living creature.She studied the crystal carefully, recognizing its quivering as a calling. "What does this mean?" the dwarf murmured, holding up the crystal, "what are you going to do?" Starbucks was still looking at the crystal.And on the distant horizon, there is a mass of darkness that is constantly devouring the blue sky.Baylor has heard the call of the broken magic crystal, and he is flapping his leather wings and rushing towards here at an accelerated speed.Finally, with a bewildered shrug, the dwarf slung the crystal back on his belt. too late. Errtu sprang down, knocking her to the ground before the dwarf could raise his weapon.In a breath, Clinshinibon had fallen into the hands of the devil, a rendezvous both longed for. Starber, who was lying on the ground, felt dizzy for a while, and her weapon had already been thrown out of her hand.She propped herself up on her elbows, saw the tanarmo hovering in the air clearly, and hurriedly began to call out to her god.But Errtu could not allow her time to fulfill her wish.He kicked her hard, kicking the pastor a dozen feet, before going to kill her with one blow. Clinshinibon stopped him.Violence is not abhorred by this artifact, nor has it any sympathy for dwarves.It just reminds Errtu that enemies like Starbord are still useful.Errtu didn't know of Bruenor Warhammer's battle to retake Mithril Hall, or of the Warhammer clan's march away from Icewind Dale, let alone their return.But the fiend knew of the alliance between Drizzt and the dwarves of Icewind Dale.If Drizzt Do'Urden is in Icewind Dale, he's likely to be with the dwarves in the dwarven mines below Cairn's Cone.The female dwarf undoubtedly belonged to that tribe. Errtu dropped beside her.Starber had just suffered a powerful blow from Baylor, and not only could she not concentrate on casting spells, she even lost the strength to get up and grab a weapon.The demon held out a hand, and on his middle finger was a ring set with a ring of black and purple gemstones.Errtu began to chant incantations in the thick tongue of the Abyss, his black eyes bursting into orange flames for a split second. The ring shone purple.Starber's whole body was bathed in this purple light. Suddenly, the scene before Starber's eyes changed dramatically.She didn't see the demon again, what appeared in front of her was the ground, and her own body!He heard Errtu's manic laughter, and felt the Crystal Shard's triumph.In the end, she could only helplessly watch her body stand up numbly.Start collecting scattered items. The soulless dwarven body shifted its legs like a zombie and turned back north. Starbucks' soul is imprisoned in the Purple Gem.She could feel the pulsations of information being sent to Errtu from the evil artifact. ※※※※ That same night, Drizzt and Katie were with Bruenor, along with the red-bearded dwarf and Regis.They enjoy the brilliant and peaceful starlight together.But both dwarves and halflings could see the unnatural expressions on the faces of the two friends, and sense the secrets that Drizzt and Katie held in their hearts. There were many times when the drow and the young woman would involuntarily exchange worried glances. "Okay," Bruno said finally.He couldn't stand the flirting between the two of them anymore. Katie "giggled" a few times, and the already tense atmosphere was diluted by her father's relaxed words.In fact, she and Drizzt hadn't called Bruenor and Regis here tonight just to see the beautiful moon and stars.After a long discussion, Drow finally agreed with Katie and stopped hiding from his friends why they returned to Icewind Dale. Drizzt then recounted their experiences of the last few weeks.Deudermont's attack in Waterdeep, the trip to Karvey, Harkle Harbell's spell to Kardon, and Cadderly taking them on the wind to Luskan.He didn't omit any details, and even recited the poem of the blind witch to them according to his own memory, and told them that according to the meaning in the poem, his father should have become a captive of the powerful Tanamoertu . Katie often chimed in to speak her mind, to comfort her father, telling him they had come back because this was their home, because Bruno was here, and Regis was here. After Drizzt finished speaking, the four returned to calm.All eyes fell on Bruno.Everyone was waiting for his reaction, as if he were the judge who was about to pronounce sentence. "You bloody elf!" he roared at last. "You're always giving us trouble! And making our lives interesting!" After a brief but exhausting laugh, Drizzt, Katie, and Bruno heard Regis say, "I really need to expand my circle of friends." But compared to Bruno who was furious just now, Regis The statement is even more hypocritical. Guenhwyvar roared loudly in the night. They are together again.These five friends will face all difficulties together, and will fight side by side in all battles. They knew not the true terror of Errtor, nor that Crenshinibon had fallen into the hands of the devil.