later, when a host of armed soldiers wearing the new silver and light blue uniforms of the city guard, surrounded her at a comfortable distance.
"The panther is with you, " one of them reasoned.
"Guenhwyvar, " Catti-brie replied. "I am Catti-brie, daughter of Bruenor Battlehammer, Eighth King of Mithril Hall."
The man nodded and smiled, and Catti-brie relaxed with a deep sigh.
"It is indeed the drow's cat!" another of the guardsmen blurted. He blushed at his uncalled for outburst, looked to the leader, and promptly lowered his eyes.
"Aye, Guen's the friend of Drizzt Do'Urden, " Catti-brie replied. "Is he about in the city?" she couldn't help asking, though, logically, she would have preferred to ask the question of Alustriel, who might give her a more complete answer.
"Not that I have heard, " replied the guard leader, "but Silvery moon is honored by your presence, Princess of Mithril Hall." He dipped a low bow, and Catti-brie blushed, not used to, or comfort able with, such treatment.
She did well to hide her disappointment about the news, reminding herself that finding Drizzt was not likely to be easy. Even if Drizzt had come into Silverymoon, he had probably done so secretly.
"I have come to speak with Lady Alustriel, " Catti-brie ex plained.
"You should have been escorted from the gate, " the guard leader groused, angered by the lack of proper protocol.
Catti-brie understood the man's frustration and realized that she had probably just gotten the unwitting soldiers at the Moon bridge, the invisible structure spanning the great River Rauvin, in trouble. "They did not know me name, " she added quickly, "or me quest. I thought it best to come through on me own and see what I might."
"They did not question the presence of such a, " He wisely caught himself before saying "pet." "A panther?" he went on.
"Guen was not beside me, " Catti-brie replied without thinking, then her face crinkled up, realizing the million questions she had probably just inspired.
Fortunately, the guards did not belabor the point. They had heard enough descriptions of the impassioned young woman to be satisfied that this was indeed the daughter of Bruenor Battle hammer. They escorted Catti-brie and Guenhwyvar (at a respectful distance) through the city, to the western wall and the graceful and enchanting palace of Lady Alustriel.
Left alone in a waiting chamber, Catti-brie decided to keep Guenhwyvar by her side. The panther's presence would give her tale credibility, she decided, and if Drizzt had been about, or still was, Guenhwyvar would sense it.
The minutes slipped by uneventfully, and restless Catti-brie grew bored. She moved to a side door and gently pushed it open, revealing a decorated powder room, with a wash basin and a small, gold trimmed table, complete with a large mirror. Atop it was an assortment of combs and brushes, a selection of small vials, and an opened coffer containing many different colored packets of dye.
Curious, the young woman looked over her shoulder to make sure that all was quiet, then moved in and sat down. She took up a brush and roughly ran it through her tangled and thick auburn hair, thinking she should try to appear her best when standing before the Lady of Silverymoon. She scowled when she noticed dirt on her cheek, and quickly dipped her hand in the water basin and rubbed it roughly over the spot, managing a smile when it was gone.
She peeked out of the anteroom again, to make sure that no one had come. Guenhwyvar, lying comfortably on the floor, looked up and growled.
"Oh, shut yer mouth, " Catti-brie said, and she slipped back into the powder room and inspected the vials. She removed the tight top of one and sniffed, and her blue eyes opened wide in surprise at the powerful aroma. From outside the door, Guenhwyvar growled again and sneezed, and Catti-brie laughed. "I know what ye mean, " she said to the cat.
Catti-brie went through several of the vials, crinkling her nose at some, sneezing at more than one, and finally finding one whose aroma she enjoyed. It reminded her of a field of wildflowers, not overpowering, but subtly beautiful, the background music to a spring day.
She nearly jumped out of her boots, nearly stuffed the vial up her nose, when a hand grasped her shoulder.
Catti-brie spun about, and her breath was stolen away. There stood Alustriel, it had to be!, her hair shining silver and hanging halfway down her