Chapter 34 The final chapter

The group did not take the orc death pass.Guenhwyvar led them to the tunnels deep beneath Mithril Hall, and Entreri, who knew the paths well, led them to the tunnels leading to the lower deposits.On the same ledge where they competed, under the same starry sky where they fought to the death, the killer and the ranger went their separate ways. Entreri walked down the ledge, and after a while he stood looking back at his vengeful opponent. "My memory is also very good," he said, borrowing Jarlaxle's farewell words, "and my skills are no worse than the dark elves." Tristramer made no answer.

"Curse me for what I promised," Catti-brie whispered to Drizzt. "I can't think of anything that would make me happier than shooting that guy in the back with an arrow." Drizzt hooked Catti-brie by the shoulders and pulled her into the tunnel.He wasn't against Catti-brie's plan to shoot an arrow, if it did, the world would be a little better.He didn't mind Artemis Entreri anymore, though. Drizzt knew that Entreri minded his presence.The killer didn't like what he saw in Menzoberranzan, a mirror that clearly reflected his dark heart.It would be a long time before he could shake his conscience, it would be a long time before he could turn his attention to the dark elf ranger at such a distance.

Less than an hour later, the two friends arrived at the spot where Wulfgar had died.They stood there for a long time, holding each other's arms without saying a word. Just when they decided to leave, a train of dwarves in full armor appeared, blocking all exits with chariots. "Surrender! I won't crush you!" There was a loud shout, but once the two intruders were recognized, the voice turned into a shout of surprise.The dwarf soldiers rushed forward and surrounded the pair. "Take them to the Watch Commander!" With a shout, Drizzt and Catti-brie were surrounded by the dwarves and quickly pushed forward, walked through the winding corridor, passed through the The main entrance of Mithril Hall.Not far from the main gate they came across the Commander just mentioned, and were surprised to find that it was Regis who met them by that title.

"Commander?" was Catti-brie's first words when she saw her little friend again.Regis jumped down into her arms, throwing his arms around Drizzt's neck at the same time. "You're back!" he yelled over and over again, his round face beaming with joy. "Commander?" Catti-brie asked again, her tone of disbelief not diminished a bit. Regis shrugged. "Someone has to do it," he explained. "I don't think he's doing a bad job," said one of the dwarves.The other dwarves in the room stroked their beards in agreement, which made the halfling's dimpled face flush.Regis shrugged again.Then kissed Catti-brie hard on the cheek.Turned it all blue.

※※※※ Bruenor sat there as if turned to stone, and the other dwarves in the audience hall left knowingly after a warm welcome to Catti-brie. "I brought him back," the young woman said nonchalantly when she was alone with her father, as if what had happened was nothing to be surprised about. "You should go and see Menzoberranzan for yourself." Bruenor stepped back, tears welling from his gray-blue eyes. "Damn silly boy!" he yelled, dismissing Catti-brie's indifference.She'd known Bruno for as long as she could remember, but now she wasn't sure if he wanted to hug her or strangle her.

"You bloody idiot!" Natural obstinacy made her reply. Bruno jumped out and stretched out his hands.He had never hit his adopted daughter before, but now it was at the last moment to stop himself. "You bloody fool!" Catti-brie yelled again, as if Bruno were going to hit her. "You sit here wallowing in the irreparable and letting fate make the irreparable worse!" Bruno turned his back. "You know I miss Wulfgar as much as you do?" Catti-brie continued, grabbing him by the shoulders, but she still couldn't turn the dwarf around. "You know Trace Don't I miss you less than you?"

"He's a fool too!" Bruenor roared, turning to stare at her, and for a split second Catti-brie saw sparks from the past, long-lost flames burning in the dwarf's wet eyes. "He'll be the first to agree with what you say," answered Catti-brie, a smile spreading across her beautiful face. "We've all been fools a few times. But a friend's duty is to help us when we're foolish." .” Bruno surrendered and gave his darling daughter the hug she wanted most. "Drizzt couldn't have had a better friend than Catti-brie," he admitted, burying the words in the young woman's neck, her blouse soaked with the old dwarf's tears.

※※※※ Outside the Mithril Hall, Drizzt Do'Urden sat on a stone, not caring that the biting cold wind foreshadowed the approaching of severe winter, and basked in the warmth of the morning light that he thought he would never see again.