Chapter 4 Chapter 2 Farewell to Mysteries

Eyes open for another long sleepless night, Katie slipped on a robe and walked across her tiny room, hoping to find some comfort in the sun.Her thick auburn hair hung down on one side and left in a crooked lock on the other, but she didn't care.Rubbing the drowsiness out of her eyes, she almost tripped over the threshold, and then she stayed there, suddenly an inexplicable emotion came over her. Fingers brushing against the wooden door, standing bewildered, she was almost overwhelmed by the same feeling as the night before: something was wrong.error.She had planned to go straight to breakfast, but now she was only anxious to see Drizzt.

The young lady walked across the corridor leading to Drizzt's room in three steps, and began knocking on the door.After a while, she called, "Drizzt?" There was no response from the drow, so she quickly turned the handle and pushed the door open.Catti-brie noticed immediately that Drizzt's cutlass and traveling cloak were missing, and without thinking, her eyes shifted to the bed.The bed had been made and the quilt neatly folded, but that was no surprise to the neat dark elf. Catti-brie slid to the bed to inspect the folded quilt.It was neatly folded, but not tightly rolled, and she knew that the bed had been made a long time ago, and that no one had slept in it at all last night.

"What's wrong?" she asked herself.With one last glance at the small room, she walked out back into the hall.Drizzt had left Mithral Hall without saying goodbye before, often at night.He usually went to Silvermoon, that fabulous city to the east, only a week away. Why did Catti-brie feel wrong this time?Why would something like this, which had happened before, strike Catti-brie with a problem?Katie shrugged, trying to forget it, suppressing the palpitations.She's worrying, she told herself.She lost Wulfgar, so she was overly protective of her other friends. Catti-brie walked on, thinking, before stopping at another door.She tapped on the door, but there was no response from inside—but she also knew that the people inside hadn't gotten up yet.She banged hard and punched several times.A sigh came from the room.

Catti-brie pushed the door straight in, knelt in front of the cot and pulled the blanket off the sleeping Regis, and started scratching his armpit. "Hey!" yelled the chubby halfling, who had just broken free from the trial that Artemis Entreri, the killer, had given him in his dream.He woke up quickly, and reached out to pull back the thrown quilt. "Where's Drizzt?" Catti-brie asked, tugging at the quilt even harder. "How do I know?" Regis protested, "I haven't left my room this morning!" "Get up." Catti-brie was surprised at the sharpness of her own voice, how strong her tone was.The uneasiness tore at her again, stronger this time.She looked around, trying to figure out what was causing her sudden anxiety.

She saw the panther statue. Catti-brie fixed her eyes on the object, Drizzt's favorite, without blinking.How did it end up in Regis' room?She was puzzled.Why did Drizzt leave it and go?At this moment, her emotions surpassed her reason.She jumped over the bed, threw the blanket over Regis (he immediately wrapped himself tightly from the shoulders down), and snatched the panther.Then she jumped back, tugging at the halfling's bedding. "No!" Regis scrambled to pull back the quilt.He threw himself face down on the mattress, grabbed the corner of the pillow, and covered his head.

Catti-brie lifted him from the bed by the collar, dragged him across the room, and stuffed him into a chair by the table.Regis, still covering his face with a pillow, flopped his head onto the table. Catti-brie stood quietly clutching the other corner of the pillow without a word, then jerked it out of the startled halfling's grasp, knocking his head hard against something. On an unpadded wooden table. Regis, who was full of moans and complaints, sat upright in the chair, and his stubby fingers brushed through the soft and curly brown hair curls. After sleeping all night, their elasticity remained undiminished.

"What's wrong?" he asked. Catti-brie slapped the portrait of the panther on the table and stood it in front of the halfling. "Where's Drizzt?" she asked again, calmly. "Maybe in the dungeon." Regis grumbled, licking his teeth that might have been knocked loose. "Why don't you ask Bruno?" Mention of the Dwarf King deflated Catti-brie.Ask Bruno?Katie smiled wryly.Bruno barely talks to anyone.He was so desperate that he probably wouldn't know it if all the Warhammer dwarves got up in the middle of the night and disappeared. "So Drizzt left Guenhiffa behind," Regis said casually.

But he couldn't hide it from this insightful woman.She moved closer to the halfling, staring at him, her dark blue eyes narrowed. "What's the matter?" Regis asked innocently again, feeling the heat of Katie's aggressive gaze. "Where's Drizzt?" Catti-brie asked, her voice eerily calm. "Why are you holding the big cat?" Regis shook his head, howled helplessly, and banged his head on the table once again in a play. Catti-brie watched to see which play he wanted to be in.She knew Regis too well to be fooled by his tricks.She grabbed his brown curly hair and forced him to raise his head, while with the other hand she grabbed the front of his pajamas.Katie could see that the halfling was terrified by the rudeness, but she wasn't relenting.Regis was lifted from his seat.Catti-brie grabbed him and slapped him against the wall.

Catti-brie's frowning brow eased a little, and she rummaged through the halfling's pajamas to find that he wasn't wearing a ruby ​​charm - something he would never take off.A growing sense of curiosity and unease assailed her, and she became more and more certain that there was indeed serious trouble. "There must have been an accident," said Catti-brie, frowning even more tightly. "Katie-brie!" Regis yelled, looking down at his hairy feet dangling from the ground, "and you know what's going on," Katie-brie continued. "Catti-brie!" Regis wailed again, trying to soften the agitated woman.

Catti-brie held the halfling's pajamas with both hands, let him off the wall, and slapped him back harder. "I lost Wulfgar," she snapped, and it dawned on Regis that he was not negotiating with a reasonable man. Regis didn't know what to do.Bruenor Warhammer's daughter was always the coolest of the team, and it was her composure that held the others together.Even the calm Drizzt sees Katie as a signpost of right and wrong.But now... In the depths of Catti-brie's blue eyes filled with anger, Regis saw the unforgettable pain. She dragged him away from the wall again, and slammed him back. "Tell me what you know." Her tone was surprisingly cold.

Regis was struck in the back of the head.He was scared, very scared, both for Catti-brie and for himself.Did her grief lead her to despair?Why was he suddenly involved in all this?All Regis wanted in life was a warm bed and a good meal. "We should go to Blue—" he was cut short when Catti-brie slapped him across the face. Regis raised his hand to touch the stinging cheek, feeling that it was swollen, he couldn't believe this happened, and stared at the young woman in front of him without blinking. Catti-brie's violent reaction frightened him, too.The halfling saw tears welling from her softened eyes.She trembled, and Regis didn't know what was going to happen to her. The halfling considered his situation for a moment, and began to wonder if it made any difference between being a few days late and a few weeks late in telling the truth. "Drizzt is home." The halfling said softly, he was always like this, he would do whatever he wanted, worrying about the result was something for the future. Catti-brie relaxed somewhat. "This is his home," she said. "Of course you don't mean Icewind Dale." "It's Menzoberranzan," Regis corrected. Even if Catti-brie took an arrow in the back of her heart, it would not hurt her as much as the word.She let go and dropped Regis to the floor, falling back on the edge of the halfling's bed. "He left Guenhwyvar to you," Regis explained. "He took great care of you, and the big cat." His words of reassurance did not shake the look of horror on Catti-brie's face.Regis wished he still had the pendant, so that he could use the pendant's irresistible power to calm her. "Don't tell Bruenor," Regis added, "Drizzt may not have gone very far." The halfling came up with an idea, and made a detour. "He said he'd see Alustriel first, so he could decide how to go." Not entirely true—Drizzt had only mentioned that he might stop at Silvermoon, to confirm his fears —but Regis thought Catti-brie should have a little more hope. "Don't tell Bruno." The halfling emphasized again.Catti-brie looked up at him with the saddest expression Regis had ever seen. "He'll be back." Regis rushed to sit beside her. "You know Drizzt. He'll be back." For Catti-brie, this fact was too much for her to bear.She gently pulled Regis' hand from her arm and stood up.She glanced at the black panther statue standing on the small table, but she didn't have the strength to retrieve it. Katie-brie walked out of the room slowly, went back to her bedroom, and fell listlessly on the bed. ※※※※ Drizzt slept half the day in the cool shadows of the cavern, which was far from the eastern gate of Mithril Hall.The air in early summer is full of intoxicating warmth, and even the cool breeze from the glaciers in the mountains melts into the summer heat of the blue sky. The dark elf didn't sleep long and didn't fall asleep.For when he was still he would think of Wulfgar, his friends, and distant memories, of that horrible place: Menzoberranzan. As terrifying as it is beautiful.Like the drow who made it. Drizzt moved to the mouth of this shallow cave, and while eating, he comfortably bathed in the bright and warm afternoon sun, while listening to the singing of various animals.How different this was from his home in the Underdark!How beautiful it is here! Drizzt slammed the rations to the ground, hammering the ground beside him with his fist. When the false hopes dangled before his despairing eyes, they had been so good.All he wanted in his life was to escape the way of life of his tribe and let himself live in peace with the world.So he came to the surface world, and soon decided that this place—a place where birds chirping, the sun was shining brightly, and the moon was shining brightly—should be his home, not the endless darkness in the deep underground and countless tunnels . Drizzt Do'Urden chose the surface world, what does that mean?It meant he made close new friends; and then, because of his presence, dragged them all into the darkness he had brought on.This meant that Wulfgar died under the curse of Drizzt's own sister, and the entire Mithril Hall would be in danger. It means his choice is wrong and he cannot stay. The self-disciplined dark elf quickly calmed down and took out more food. Although the resentment was stuck in his throat, he still forced himself to swallow it.While eating, he considered the itinerary.The road ahead has to climb over the mountain and pass through a village called Peng Jialun.Drizzt had been there recently, and he had no intention of going again.He finally decided that he couldn't follow the road.So how about going through Silvermoon City?But now that it was trading season, Drizzt wondered if Alustriel would be in town.Even if she were, could she offer him any useful advice? No, Drizzt has already made the final itinerary, and there is no need for Alustriel to confirm.He packed up his things and sighed.Without the company of my dear black panther, the road ahead seems so lonely.He stepped out of the cave into daylight, and went straight east, leaving the main road going southeast. ※※※※ She had missed breakfast, and lunch, and her stomach hadn't complained yet.She was still lying on the bed, deeply caught in a web called despair.She had lost Wulfgar, just days before their wedding.Now, Drizzt was lost again—he whom she loved as much as the savage, was gone too.It was as if her whole world had been crumbled to pieces.The foundation made of stubborn stones suddenly turned into sand and gravel in the wind. Catti-brie had been a fighter her whole young life.She doesn't remember her mother, nor her father, who were all killed when the goblins raided Ten Towns when she was very young.Bruenor Warhammer took her in and raised her as his own.Catti-brie lived well among the dwarves of Bruenor.But with the exception of Bruno, everyone else is just friends, not family.Catti-brie forged a home, adding new members one at a time—first Bruenor, then Drizzt, then Regis, and finally, Wulfgar. Now Wulfgar was dead, and Drizzt was gone, back to his hated homeland.And, in Catti-brie's estimation, there was no chance of him coming back. Catti-brie is completely helpless in the face of it all!She watched Wulfgar die, saw the boulder he hammered down on her from the cave roof, so that she could escape the wax melter's clutches.She tried to help him, but failed.In the end, all that remained was a pile of rubble and the Aegis-fang. In the weeks that followed, Catti-brie teetered on the edge of control, trying in vain to wriggle out of an almost numbing grief.She cried a lot, but she also often took a deep breath when she started to sob, and used the meager willpower to control herself not to cry.The only person she could talk to was Drizzt. Now that Drizzt was gone, Catti-brie was crying again.She burst into tears, weeping for the disillusionment of her once beautiful vision.She wants Wulfgar back!She protested to every god who might be listening, that he was too young to be taken from her, that he had so much to accomplish. Her sobbing gradually turned into a furious howl, a tyrannical denial.Pillows flew across the room, and Katie-brie threw the blanket in a messy ball as well.Then she turned the bed over, just to hear its wooden frame hit the hard ground. "No!" The voice came from the depths of the young warrior's heart.Wulfgar's death was unjust, but there was nothing Catti-brie could do about it. Drizzt's departure was also unfair, at least not to Catti-brie's hurt feelings, but she was also... The thought froze in Catti-brie's mind.Standing on the edge of the overturned bed, she was still shaking, but this time it was under control.She understood why the dark elf had slipped away, and why Drizzt had carried the burden alone, as he had always done. "No." The young woman said again.She took off her pajamas, grabbed a blanket to wipe off the sweat, and got dressed.Catti-brie moved without hesitation, afraid that if she stopped to think she might change her mind.She slipped quickly into a piece of soft, thin mithril chain mail, so skillfully crafted by the dwarves that she couldn't see it from the outside when she put on the sleeveless tunic. With equal swiftness Catti-brie put on her boots, grabbed her cloak and leather gloves, and ran across the room to the closet.There she got her sword belt, quiver, and her beloved tamari heartbow.She ran (rather than walked) from her room to the halfling's room, banging on the door and breaking in. Regis was still lying in bed, his stomach was already full to the brim with his breakfast that lasted until lunch time.So he wasn't asleep yet, but seeing Catti-brie barge in again gave him a big jump. She pulled him up, and he watched her curiously.Tears still hung on her cheeks.The bright blue eyes were still bloodshot with anger.Regis had been a thief most of his life, and his ability to understand people had kept him alive.It was not difficult for him to analyze the reason behind her sudden outburst of anger. "Where did you put the panther?" Catti-brie demanded. Regis stared at her for a long time.Catti-brie had to shake him hard. "Tell me quickly," she ordered, "I've wasted too much time." "What time is wasting?" Regis asked knowingly. "Just give me the big cat," said Catti-brie.Regis glanced casually at his wardrobe, and Catti-brie rushed over, opening it, rummaging through drawer after drawer. "Drizzt doesn't like this," Regis advised calmly. "Then let him go to hell!" Catti-brie yelled.She found the statue and held it up to her eyes, marveling at its beauty. "Do you think Guenhwyvar will lead you to find him?" Regis was more of a conclusion than a question. Catti-brie put the statue in the pouch on her belt and didn't bother to answer. "Even if you catch him," Regis continued as she headed for the door, "what can you do for Drizzt in a drow city? A human woman better stay out of there, Isn't it?" The halfling's mocking tone stopped Catti-brie in her tracks, and she began to seriously consider what she was going to do.Regis' reason was too realistic!How did she get into Menzoberranzan?Even if she went in, how could she see even a piece of floor in front of her in that dark place? "No!" Catti-brie finally yelled, her rationality being swept away by the rush of helplessness, "I'm going to find him anyway. I can't just watch another friend die!" "Trust him!" Regis begged.And for the first time the halfling thought he might not be able to stop an agitated Catti-brie. Catti-brie shook her head, and made her way to the door again. "Wait!" Regis yelled, pleading.So the young woman turned and looked at him.Regis suddenly fell into a dilemma.It seemed as if he should run out and fetch Bruenor, or General Dagna, or any of the dwarves, and keep Catti-brie, even by force if necessary.She was crazy, and her decision to run out with Drizzt was completely pointless. Yet Regis understood her wish.He feels exactly the same way she does. "If I go away," said Catti-brie, "and Drizzt comes after me..." Regis nodded in understanding.If Catti-brie, or any of them, were in danger, Drizzt Do'Urden would come after him, fighting by his side, against odds or against.When Regis had been taken captive by Entreri, Drizzt, Wulfgar, Catti-brie, and Bruenor had traveled across most of Faerûn to find him.Regis had known Catti-brie since she was a child and always had the highest opinion of her, but he had never been more proud of her than he was now. "In Menzoberranzan, a human is only a liability to Drizzt," he added. "I don't think so," whispered Catti-brie.She didn't understand what exactly Regis was going to say. Regis jumped out of bed and rushed across the room.Catti-brie was wary, thinking he was going to grab her, but he ran past her to the desk and pulled out a bottom drawer. "Then don't be human," said the halfling, taking out the magic mask from inside and throwing it at Catti-brie. Catti-brie caught it and stared at it in amazement as Regis ran past her back to the bed. Entreri had used the mask to enter Mithril Hall, using its magic to disguise himself as Regis.And all of Regis' friends had been duped, not even Drizzt seeing the killer's disguise. "Drizzt is on his way to Silvermoon," Regis told her. Catti-brie was taken aback, thinking that the dark elves would have descended directly into the Underdark through the lower passages of Mithril Hall.Thinking of this, she immediately remembered that Bruenor had placed many guards in those halls, making sure that the doors were closed and locked. "One more thing," Regis said.Catti-brie hung the mask on her belt, looked in the direction of the bed, and saw Regis standing on the piled mattresses, holding a dagger inlaid with dazzling jewels. "I don't need this," Regis explained. "Not here. Bruenor and a thousand of his people are with me." He held out the dagger, but Catti-brie didn't take it. She had seen this dagger before, it was Artemis Entreri's dagger.The killer had pressed it around her neck, robbing her of courage.Never in her life had she felt more helpless than at that moment, like a helpless little girl.Catti-brie wasn't sure if she could take it from Regis, if she could bear to carry such an item. "Entreri is dead," Regis assured her, wondering why she was so hesitant. Catti-brie nodded blankly, but her mind was filled with the shadow of being caught by Entreri.She remembered the man's vulgar smell, the smell of pure evil.She had been so weak...like the moment the cave roof fell on Wulfgar.Still weak now—she was a little taken aback—how could she be weak when Drizzt needed her? Catti-brie took the dagger through gritted teeth.She gripped it tightly and slipped it into her belt. "You must never tell Bruno," she said. "He'll know," Regis argued. "I might be able to assuage his curiosity about Drizzt leaving—Dizzet often does—but Bruenor will soon find out that you're gone." Catti-brie had no intention of further arguing with Regis, and besides, she didn't care.She must go to Drizzt.This is her mission, her way of correcting her messed up life. She ran to the bed, put her arms around Regis, gave him a tight hug, and kissed him hard on the cheek. "Farewell, my friend," she called, letting him drop back into the mattresses, "Farewell!" Then she was gone, and Regis sat there with his chin in his fat hand.For him, the events of the previous day were too much.First Drizzt, now Catti-brie.After Wulfgar left, only Regis and Bruenor remained in Mithril Hall among the Five Friends of Mithril. Bruno!Regis lay on his side, moaning.He buried his face in his hands at the thought of that remarkable dwarf.If Bruenor found out that Regis had helped put Catti-brie in danger, he would have torn the halfling apart. Regis couldn't imagine telling the dwarf king the truth.He suddenly began to regret his decision, seeing how foolish it was to let his emotions, his sympathies, get in the way of sound judgment.He understood what Catti-brie was thinking, and felt that it was right for her to go after Drizzt, if she really wanted to - she was a grown woman, don't forget, she was still a pretty good fighter —but Bruno didn't understand this. Drizzt didn't understand either, and he groaned again at the thought of the halfling.He broke his oath to the dark elves and revealed the secret on the first day!He also put Catti-brie in danger. "Drizzt will kill me!" he wailed. Catti-brie's face poked back from the door, a happy smile on her face.Regis hadn't seen such a lively smile in a long, long time.Suddenly, she was the vivacious maiden he and the others had loved; the lively young woman she had been before the cave's roof had fallen on Wulfgar.Even the redness in her eyes had faded and sparkled with joy. "Just wait for Drizzt to come back and kill you!" Catti-brie said happily.She kissed the halfling lightly and ran away. "Wait!" Regis yelled absently, glad to see Catti-brie didn't stop.He still thinks he is irrational, even downright stupid, and he still knows that Bruno and Drizzt will definitely ask him for what he did, but Catti-brie's smile just now, she has obviously changed With renewed vigor, all these inner struggles of his were resolved.