the floor, but refused to cry out, even to grunt, not wanting Fret to think her ridiculous. In fumbling with her pack, though, trying to get to her tinderbox, lantern, and oil, Catti-brie thought herself so just the same.
"Do you know that she likes you?" Fret asked casually
The question stopped the young woman. She looked back to regard the dwarf, who was just a short, dark silhouette before the lighter gray of the outside night.
"Alustriel, I mean, " Fret clarified.
Catti-brie had no answer. She hadn't felt comfortable around the magnificent Lady of Silverymoon, far from it. Intentionally or not, Alustriel had made her feel little, perfectly insignificant.
"She does, " Fret insisted. "She likes you and admires you."
"In an orc's thoughts, " Catti-brie huffed. She thought she was being mocked.
"You remind her of her sister, " Fret went on, without missing a beat, "Dove Falconhand, a spirited woman if ever there was one."
Catti-brie did not reply this time. She had heard many tales of Alustriel's sister, a legendary ranger, and had indeed fancied herself somewhat like Dove. Suddenly the dwarf's claims did not seem so outrageous.
"Alas for Alustriel, " Fret remarked. "She wishes that she could be more like you."
"In an orc's thoughts!" Catti-brie blurted, unable to stop herself. The notion that Alustriel, the fabulous Lady of Silverymoon, could be the least bit jealous of Catti-brie seemed absurd.
"In a human's thoughts, I say!" Fret replied. "What is it about your race that none of you can seem to properly weigh your own value? Every human seems to think more of herself than she should, or less of herself than is sensible! Alustriel likes you, I say, even admires you. If she did not, if she thought you and your plans were silly, then why would she go to this trouble? Why would she send me, a valuable sage, along with you? And why, daughter of Bruenor Battlehammer, would she give you this?"
He lifted one hand, holding something delicate that Catti-brie could not make out. She paused a moment to digest what he had said, then walked back over to him.
The dwarf held a fine silver chain, a circlet headdress, with a gemstone set into it.
"It is beautiful, " Catti-brie admitted, studying the pale green gem, a line of black running through its center.
"More than beautiful, " Fret said, and he motioned for Catti-brie to put it on.
She clasped it in place, the gem set against the middle of her forehead, and then she nearly swooned, for the images around her suddenly blurred and wavered. She could see the dwarf, not just his silhouette, but actually Fret's features! She glanced about in dis belief, focusing on the back of the cave. It seemed as if it was bathed in starlight, not brightly, but Catti-brie could make out the jags and the nooks clearly enough.
Catti-brie could not see it, of course, but the thin black line along the middle of the gemstone had widened like a pupil.
"Walking into the Underdark under a blazing torch is not the wisest move, " Fret remarked. "A single candle would mark you as out of place and would leave you vulnerable. And how much oil could you carry in any case? Your lantern would be useless to you before the first day had ended. The Cat's Eye eliminates the need, you see."
"Cat's eye?"
"Cat's Eye agate, " Fret explained, pointing to the gemstone. "Alustriel did the enchanting herself. Normally a gem ensorcelled such would show you only shades of gray, but the lady does favor starlight. Few in the Realms could claim the honor of receiving such a gift."
Catti-brie nodded and didn't know how to reply Pangs of guilt accompanied her scrutiny of her feelings for the Lady of Silvery moon, and she thought herself ridiculous for ever doubting, and for ever allowing jealousy to cloud her judgment.
"I was instructed to try to dissuade you from the dangerous course, " the dwarf went on, "but Alustriel knew that I would fail. You are indeed so like Dove, headstrong and stubborn, and feeling positively immortal. She knew that you would go, even into the Underdark, " Fret said. "And, although Alustriel fears for you, she knows that nothing could or should stop you."
The dwarf's tone was neither sarcastic nor demeaning, and again Catti-brie was caught off guard, unprepared for the words.
"Will you stay the night in the cave?" Fret asked. "I could start a fire."
Catti-brie shook her head. Drizzt was already too far ahead