in his thirties with curly black hair and a thick, dark goatee, and Lady Meralda, younger and an undeniably beautiful woman, with raven hair and creamy skin and a smile that brightened the whole of the huge room.
And while the Lord of Auckney was scowling almost continually, Meralda's smile didn't dissipate for a moment.
"I suppose that you now desire a reward," asked the third in attendance, a shrewish, heavyset woman seated to Feringal's left and just a bit behind, which, in the tradition of the region, marked her as Feringal's sister.
Behind the four road-weary companions, Steward Temigast cleared his throat.
"Ye thinking ye got enough gold for us to even notice?" Bruenor growled back at her.
"We have no need of coin," Drizzt interjected, trying to keep things calm. Bruenor had just suffered a bath, after all, and that always put the already surly dwarf into an even more foul mood. "We came here merely to return Donbago and two wounded men to their homes, as well as to deliver the prisoner. We would ask, though, that if you garner any information from the brute that might concern a certain notorious pirate by the name of Sheila Kree, you would pass it along. It is Kree we are hunting."
"Of course we will share with ye whatever we might learn," the Lady Meralda replied, cutting short her husband, whatever he meant to say. "And more. Whatever ye're needing, we're owing."
Drizzt didn't miss the scowl from the woman at the side, and he knew it to be both her general surliness and the somewhat common manner in which the Lady of Auckney spoke.
"Ye can stay the winter through, if ye so choose," Meralda went on.
Feringal looked at her, at first with surprise, but then in agreement.
"We might find an empty house about the town for - " the woman behind started to say.
"We will put them up right here in the castle, Priscilla," the Lady of Auckney declared.
"I hardly think - " Priscilla started to argue.
"In yer own room if I hear another word from ye," Meralda said, and she threw a wink at the four friends.
"Feri!" Priscilla roared.
"Shut up, dear sister," said Feringal, in an exasperated tone that showed the friends clearly that he often had to extend such sentiments his troublesome sister's way. "Do not embarrass us before our most distinguished guests - guests who rescued three of my loyal soldiers and avenged our losses at the hands of the beastly ogres."
"Guests who've got tales to tell of faraway lands and dragon's hoards," Meralda added with a gleam in her green eyes.
"Only the night, I fear," said Drizzt. "Our road will be winding and long, no doubt. We are determined to find and punish the pirate Kree before the spring thaw - before she can put her ship back out into the safety of the open seas and bring more mischief to the waters off Luskan."
Meralda's disappointment was obvious, but Feringal nodded, seeming to hardly care whether they stayed or left.
The Lord and Lady of Auckney put on a splendid feast that night in honor of the heroes, and Donbago was able to attend as well, bringing with him the welcomed news that both his brother and the other man were faring better and seemed as if they would recover.
They ate (Bruenor and Regis more than all the others combined!) and they laughed. The companions, with so many miles beneath their weathered and well-worn boots, told tales of faraway lands as Lady Meralda had desired.
Much later, Catti-brie managed to toss a wink and nod to Drizzt, guiding him into a small side room where they could be alone. They fell onto a couch, side by side, beneath a bright tapestry cheaply sketched but with rich colors.
"Ye think we should tell her about the babe?" Catti-brie asked, her hand settling on Drizzt's slender, strong forearm.
"That would only bring her pain, after the initial relief, I fear," the drow replied. "One day, perhaps, but not now."
"Oh, ye must join us!" Meralda interrupted, coming through the door to stand beside the pair. "King Bruenor is telling the best o' tales, one of a dark dragon that stole his kingdom."
"One we're knowing all too well," Catti-brie replied with a smile.
"But it would be impolite not to hear it again," said Drizzt, rising. He took Catti-brie's hand and pulled her up, and the two started past Meralda.
"So do ye think ye'll find him?" the Lady of Auckney asked as they walked by.
The pair stopped and turned as