Chapter 2 preamble

No race in the Forgotten Realms knows better than the dark elves what the word "vengeance" means.Revenge is the dessert on their daily table, it is the proud smile on the lips after tasting the mellowness. For them, revenge is the supreme delicious enjoyment.That's why the dark elves are so eager to catch me. We have lost Wulfgar.Enemies from my dark past have inflicted pain on my dear friends.This drove me into a fit of anger and self-blame I couldn't shake.Whenever I look into Catti-brie's beautiful face, I see a deep, long-lasting sadness that shouldn't be there, a weight that shouldn't be in a child's shining eyes.

Because of the same pain, I can't say words of comfort to her, and I doubt whether there are words to comfort her.Now that I have made this choice, I must continue to protect my friends.I began to understand that there had to be something beyond grief, beyond grief in the present moment.Mourning now occupies the hearts of all the dwarves of Mithril Hall and the barbarians of Stonestone. According to Catti-brie's account of the final battle, Wulfgar's opponent was a waxmelt, Rose's handmaiden.Upon hearing this horrific news, I had to put aside my grief and ponder whether my worst fears had come to pass.

I am utterly ignorant of the mayhem of the Spider Queen's tricks—I doubt even the wicked high priests know what this unnatural goddess really thinks—and yet, in this battle A wax melter.Not even my dark elf, with the worst religion lessons, can't lose sight of the significance of this.The appearance of the maid shows that the hunt was ordered by the Queen of the Spider God.The fact that the Waxmelt Demon participated in the battle is an ominous sign for Mithril Hall. Of course, these are all speculations.I did not know that my sister Vierna and the other dark forces of Menzoberranzan also played a part in this scene, nor that Vierna's death - the death of my last The bond between elves surfaced again.

Every time I look into Catti-brie's eyes, every time I see Bruno's horrific scar, at that moment, I look away and remind myself that lucky speculation is weak And dangerous.My wicked people have taken a friend from me. There will never be another one. I can't find the answer in Mithril Hall, and here I can never be sure if the dark elves still yearn for vengeance, unless someday another force from Menzoberranzan comes to the surface and offers a bounty for my head .How can I go to Silvermoon or any of the nearby towns and return to my normal way of life when the truth is on my shoulders?How can I sleep peacefully while worrying in my heart that the dark elves will come back and hurt my friend again?

The apparent peace of Mithril Hall, the lingering silence, cannot tell me of the dark elves' plots.However, for the sake of my friends, I must understand those plots.And there is probably only one place where I can search for clues. Wulfgar gave his life to keep his friend alive.In good conscience, should I have to do less than this? — Drizzt Do'Urden