slanted account of the many errors of Drizzt Do'Urden. Sheila Kree listened intently, as did Genny, as did a third woman, Bellany, who came in soon after the elf had begun the tale. All three seemed more than a little amused and interested, and as time went on, Le'lorinel relaxed even more.
When the tale was done, both Bellany and Genny applauded, but just for a moment stopping and looking to Sheila for a cue.
"A good tale," the pirate leader decided. "And I find that I believe yer words. Ye'll understand that we've much to check on afore we let ye have a free run."
"Of course," Le'lorinel agreed, giving a slight bow.
"Ye give over yer weapons, and we'll set ye in a room," Sheila explained. "I've no work for ye right now, so ye can get yer rest from the long road." As she finished, the pirate held out her hand.
Le'lorinel considered things for just a moment, then decided that Kree and her associates - especially the one named Bellany, who Le'lorinel had concluded was a spellcaster, likely a sorceress - in truth made surrendering the weapons nothing more than symbolic. With a smile at the fiery pirate, the elf turned over the dagger and sword.
* * * * * * * * * * *
"I suppose you consider this humorous," Drizzt said dryly, his tone interrupted only by the occasional wheeze as he tried to draw breath.
He was lying on the ground, facedown in the dirt, with six hundred pounds of panther draped over him. He had called up Guenhwyvar to do some hunting while he and Catti-brie continued their mock battle over the stew, but then the woman had whispered something in Guen's ear, and the cat, obviously gender loyal, had brought Drizzt down with a great flying tackle.
A few feet away, Catti-brie was thoroughly enjoying her stew.
"Ye do look a bit ridiculous," she admitted between sips.
Drizzt scrambled, and almost slipped out from under the panther. Guenhwyvar dropped a huge paw on his shoulder, extracting long claws and holding him fast.
"Ye keep on with yer fighting and Guen'll have herself a meal," Catti-brie remarked.
Drizzt's lavender eyes narrowed. "There remains a small matter of repayment," he said quietly.
Catti-brie gave a snort, then moved down close to him, on her knees. She lifted a spoon full of stew and blew on it gently, then moved it out toward Drizzt, slowly, teasingly. It almost reached his mouth when the woman pulled it back abruptly, the spoon disappearing into her mouth.
Her smile went away fast, though, as she saw Guenhwyvar dissipating into a gray mist. The cat protested, but the dismissal of her master, Drizzt, could not be ignored.
Catti-brie darted off into the woods with Drizzt in fast pursuit.
He caught her with a leaping tackle a short distance away, bearing her to the ground beneath him, then using his amazing agility and deceptive strength to roll her over and pin her. The firelight was lost behind the trees and shrubs, the starlight and the glow of a half moon alone highlighting the woman's beautiful features.
"Ye call this repayment?" the woman teased when Drizzt was atop her, straddling her and holding her arms to the ground above her head.
"Only beginning," he promised.
Catti-brie started to laugh, but stopped suddenly, her look to Drizzt becoming serious, even concerned.
"What is it?" the perceptive drow asked. He backed off a bit, letting go of her arms.
"With any luck, we'll be finding Wulfgar," Catti-brie said.
"That is our hope, yes," the drow agreed.
"How're ye feeling about that?" the woman asked bluntly.
Drizzt sat up straighter, staring at her hard. "How should I feel?"
"Are ye jealous?" Catti-brie asked. "Are ye fearing that Wulfgar's return - if he should return with us, I mean - will change some things in yer life that ye're not wanting changed?"
Drizzt gave a helpless chuckle, overwhelmed by Catti-brie's straightforwardness and honesty. Something was beginning to burn between them, the drow knew, something long overdue yet still amazing and unexpected. Catti-brie had once loved Wulfgar, had even been engaged to marry him before his apparent demise in Mithral Hall, so what would happen if Wulfgar returned to them now - not the Wulfgar who had run away, the Wulfgar who had slapped Catti-brie hard - but the man they had once known, the man who had once taken Catti-brie's heart?
"Do I hope that Wulfgar's return will not affect our relationship in any negative way?" he asked. "Of course I do. And saying that, do I hope that Wulfgar