A Bad Break: Chapter 4
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tales_of_faerunA Bad Break (1800 words) by Sharpest_Asp
Chapters: 4/?
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Drizzt Do'Urden, Original Halfling Character(s), Original Half-Elf Character(s), Storm Silverhand
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Injury - Major
Summary:
Drizzt had considered turning his steps back to Everlund, to keep Brathana company for the winter, but kept putting it off, as the papa dragon kept making certain he knew the babies were thriving now, that the entire winged population of Silverymoon was working to make certain of it. He'd heard the locals call a group made up of faerie dragons a 'rainbow' and thought that apt, given they had so many different hues as they aged. The tressym, if they deigned to congregate were called a 'cloud', while the pseudodragons were merely called a 'flight'.
Between learning more of each species, and the tales of Montolio, as well as various members of the Church of Mielikki sharing knowledge with him, he just didn't want to go, not yet. The road to Everlund was patrolled, so if he chose to go in winter, it wouldn't invite calamity on his head, and he thought Brathana would understand his need to know more. More, the citizens here were fast turning from him just being a curiosity to someone else that lived in their walls. The elves, by and large, avoided him, but the other races were letting his willingness to aid and the fact he was held in kind regard by Mielikki's people settle their nerves fully.
All in all, this was about to be the most comfortable and companionable winter he'd had in his life, he was certain.
Roddy McGristle was a man on a mission of — in his eyes — vindicated wrath. There'd been tales of that damned murdering drow in this region. Since he wasn't in Everlund any longer, it made sense to check Silverymoon. He'd move on to Nesme if this didn't pan out, preferring that kind of rugged town to these clean-living mixed species with all their strange ideas on proper behavior.
His dog growled at the winged cat sitting up on a retaining wall as they walked the bricked avenue, and McGristle gave a jerk of the leash to hush him. He didn't just start asking about the damned drow — that had got him some queer looks in Everlund — but was nosing around, trying to overhear someone talking about him or to find a tavern closer to what he expected out of life.
He didn't pay much mind to the small dragon-types flitting around, or notice that one stopped to keep that tressym company. He only cared about animals that brought him money, like his dogs, or strange-colored ones that usually netted treasure for their hides. He wasn't stupid enough to mess with any creature that might well have a wizard living in its mind.
It was that single-minded focus on his prey, the murdering drow, that kept the clouds, rainbows, and flights watching him, passing messages between themselves, with the pseudodragons handling communication for the tressym to the faerie dragons.
Methri listened to Beau's report of a new activity among the various flying creatures. There was a man who was fixated on one of the people favored by them all, and a watch was being kept.
"This doesn't sound like a peaceful start to the winter season," Methri told his familiar.
It's not, but we are watching. The one they all like will be safe.
"And the man?"
We will remember the rules.
Methri started to ask for more details, but then the Spellguard were calling for him, so they could finish refreshing the wards in their Tower, and Beau left him to go see how the watching was going.
Despite doing their best to keep an eye on the noxious man, the dog tipped the man off to their nice ranger's path. One of the older tressym, wise by decades of partnering a wizard, flew on ahead to try and get to the ranger. Beau was known to her, and she sang out the hunting cry, so that whichever pseudodragon could pas on the warning. Her warning set off the faerie dragons, more than any other population, given how the kind ranger had saved young ones of their kind.
McGristle, before he got fully in sight of his prey, was beset by the warnings of the rainbow, called out in Common and Sylvan alike, to turn away. The dog set to barking…
…and the kind ranger himself came back from his morning path to see why.
"Murderin' drow!" rang out in the early morning against the growling barks of the dog that was being confounded by the faerie dragons.
"McGristle," came in a very tired voice, as if their ranger was beyond exhausted by the loathsome man and dog. "I murdered no one. And tried to apologize for your other dog."
"Ain't about that anymore," McGristle said in a guttural voice that radiated hostility. He reached for the skinning knife on his belt —
— and that was all it took for the faerie dragons to shift most of their focus to the man, throwing confusion and illusions at him, disorienting the man. Several tressym had arrived in the meantime, taking over the dog duty, while a bold pseudodragon flew close to the kind ranger.
Do nothing. The Watch comes, that one told the ranger, getting a startled nod of agreement.
Lady Alustriel Silverhand read the report, then looked over to her seventh son who was trying to eat with assistance from his familiar.
"Methri. Beau. Do either of you know about a disturbance between a ranger of Mielikki and a man named McGristle?"
Methri looked at Beau, who did the most impressive lizard-style shrug. Finally Methri looked over at his mother, sighing. "There is a, as Beau put it, 'a kind person' that the various winged ones had taken a liking to, and someone obsessed with him.
"I didn't follow up when Beau first mentioned this, because I was actually working with the Spellguard that day. He says it was taken care of this morning, and that they did remember the rules."
Alustriel had to chuckle at that. "Confusion reigned, apparently, for the man and his dog. The dog has been confiscated and given over to the temple of Silvanus to see if it can be rehabilitated from a very abused life. The man is being held for attempting violence in one of the public areas. The ranger is staying at the Cloister, and will not be leaving until the dispute airing.
"The Ladyservant is asking that I preside over that day's grievances, due to the unusual nature of the ranger involved."
"This part I had not heard?" Methri invited.
"Then you have been working too hard, and should visit with your cousin here, as I am certain Kolarven has all of the gossip." Alustriel smiled. "It is the drow that Storm cautioned me to listen for, and I think I need to invite Dove to finally give me the full story behind her involvement in this ranger's life."
"Fill me in when you get it? I knew Calimac was telling tales about a drow ranger, but didn't know he was in our city." Methri looked at Beau intently. "You could have mentioned."
Alustriel had the impression of Beau's disdain, and Methri sighed even louder.
"What did he say?" she asked.
"That what a being looks like has no bearing here. Kindness is more important."
That, Alustriel thought, was quite the right way to look at it.
Drizzt was sitting with Leaf Grevaine, prepared to tell his version of the events near Maldobar, absolutely keeping his emotions calm by force of will alone.
The rainbow of faerie dragons present included the papa and two immature ones he'd rescued, which had him focusing on them frequently to keep his mouth closed against the villainous tale McGristle spun.
"I tell you all, he's a murderer," McGristle accused one more time, and that was when an elf in the spectators decided enough was enough.
"He was never a murderer, but you? You are — though 'were' might be appropriate now," the elf said as he stood and let his face be seen. "Begging your pardon, Lady and gentle beings, but my name is Kellindil, and this man is a liar."
Alustriel's lips thinned. "In interest of fairness, as you are a witness to events that have been aired, continue."
The crowd that had come to enjoy the spectacle of grievances being settled murmured as an elf spoke in defense of a drow. Others, though, noticed how chalky pale the man raising doubt on the ranger's nature had gone.
"My name is Kellindil, and I was the scout in Ranger Dove Falconhand's party during these events. I stayed to watch over the drow… and in time, had taken McGristle prisoner for inciting orcs to attack the grove of a blind ranger by name of Montolio DeBrouchee."
"Some creature possessed of magical speed freed the bounty hunter," Kellindil said. "And while it distracted me, McGristle tackled me, then strangled me to death. Fortunately," and he paused to actually look at the ranger, "Dove chose to come ask me about your first winter, and discovered my body's remains.
"She took pity on me, because I am on the younger side for a wood elf." He inclined his head to Drizzt who was stunned speechless, but very relieved.
"You've only his word!" McGristle finally managed to get out.
"No one invokes one of my family without being certain of the truth of the matter," Alustriel told the noisome man. "As my temperament toward lying about them is rather well-known.
"Silver Watch, take your orders from Leaf Grevaine, as I know DeBrouchee was one of Mielikki's," she said, "in regards to Roddy McGristle. Drizzt Do'Urden, do you feel a need to speak, given you were the one being maligned."
"I am relieved to know that Kellindil lives, and merely wish to never see the bounty hunter again."
Alustriel smiled at him for that, then nodded, waiting for Grevaine to move to the Silver Watch — who had quite handily boxed McGristle in and clapped irons on him after a small tussle — so that the next set of grievances could be heard.
Drizzt shifted out of the front spot with Grevaine gone, going to where the elf was moving to the back of the crowd in this open venue.
"I am glad you have a new chance to live," he said, once he'd managed to catch Kellindil's attention. "Thank you."
Kellindil tipped his chin up. "I was wrong then, about too much. But you are a good man, Drizzt Do'Urden, and I hope you fare well." He left it at that, continuing on his own way out, leaving Drizzt without words, even as the papa faerie dragon and the young fledglings came to roost on him.
Maybe… maybe he was finding his own place finally.
Chapters: 4/?
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Drizzt Do'Urden, Original Halfling Character(s), Original Half-Elf Character(s), Storm Silverhand
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Injury - Major
Summary:
Roddy McGristle shows up
Chapter Four
Drizzt had considered turning his steps back to Everlund, to keep Brathana company for the winter, but kept putting it off, as the papa dragon kept making certain he knew the babies were thriving now, that the entire winged population of Silverymoon was working to make certain of it. He'd heard the locals call a group made up of faerie dragons a 'rainbow' and thought that apt, given they had so many different hues as they aged. The tressym, if they deigned to congregate were called a 'cloud', while the pseudodragons were merely called a 'flight'.
Between learning more of each species, and the tales of Montolio, as well as various members of the Church of Mielikki sharing knowledge with him, he just didn't want to go, not yet. The road to Everlund was patrolled, so if he chose to go in winter, it wouldn't invite calamity on his head, and he thought Brathana would understand his need to know more. More, the citizens here were fast turning from him just being a curiosity to someone else that lived in their walls. The elves, by and large, avoided him, but the other races were letting his willingness to aid and the fact he was held in kind regard by Mielikki's people settle their nerves fully.
All in all, this was about to be the most comfortable and companionable winter he'd had in his life, he was certain.
Roddy McGristle was a man on a mission of — in his eyes — vindicated wrath. There'd been tales of that damned murdering drow in this region. Since he wasn't in Everlund any longer, it made sense to check Silverymoon. He'd move on to Nesme if this didn't pan out, preferring that kind of rugged town to these clean-living mixed species with all their strange ideas on proper behavior.
His dog growled at the winged cat sitting up on a retaining wall as they walked the bricked avenue, and McGristle gave a jerk of the leash to hush him. He didn't just start asking about the damned drow — that had got him some queer looks in Everlund — but was nosing around, trying to overhear someone talking about him or to find a tavern closer to what he expected out of life.
He didn't pay much mind to the small dragon-types flitting around, or notice that one stopped to keep that tressym company. He only cared about animals that brought him money, like his dogs, or strange-colored ones that usually netted treasure for their hides. He wasn't stupid enough to mess with any creature that might well have a wizard living in its mind.
It was that single-minded focus on his prey, the murdering drow, that kept the clouds, rainbows, and flights watching him, passing messages between themselves, with the pseudodragons handling communication for the tressym to the faerie dragons.
Methri listened to Beau's report of a new activity among the various flying creatures. There was a man who was fixated on one of the people favored by them all, and a watch was being kept.
"This doesn't sound like a peaceful start to the winter season," Methri told his familiar.
It's not, but we are watching. The one they all like will be safe.
"And the man?"
We will remember the rules.
Methri started to ask for more details, but then the Spellguard were calling for him, so they could finish refreshing the wards in their Tower, and Beau left him to go see how the watching was going.
Despite doing their best to keep an eye on the noxious man, the dog tipped the man off to their nice ranger's path. One of the older tressym, wise by decades of partnering a wizard, flew on ahead to try and get to the ranger. Beau was known to her, and she sang out the hunting cry, so that whichever pseudodragon could pas on the warning. Her warning set off the faerie dragons, more than any other population, given how the kind ranger had saved young ones of their kind.
McGristle, before he got fully in sight of his prey, was beset by the warnings of the rainbow, called out in Common and Sylvan alike, to turn away. The dog set to barking…
…and the kind ranger himself came back from his morning path to see why.
"Murderin' drow!" rang out in the early morning against the growling barks of the dog that was being confounded by the faerie dragons.
"McGristle," came in a very tired voice, as if their ranger was beyond exhausted by the loathsome man and dog. "I murdered no one. And tried to apologize for your other dog."
"Ain't about that anymore," McGristle said in a guttural voice that radiated hostility. He reached for the skinning knife on his belt —
— and that was all it took for the faerie dragons to shift most of their focus to the man, throwing confusion and illusions at him, disorienting the man. Several tressym had arrived in the meantime, taking over the dog duty, while a bold pseudodragon flew close to the kind ranger.
Do nothing. The Watch comes, that one told the ranger, getting a startled nod of agreement.
Lady Alustriel Silverhand read the report, then looked over to her seventh son who was trying to eat with assistance from his familiar.
"Methri. Beau. Do either of you know about a disturbance between a ranger of Mielikki and a man named McGristle?"
Methri looked at Beau, who did the most impressive lizard-style shrug. Finally Methri looked over at his mother, sighing. "There is a, as Beau put it, 'a kind person' that the various winged ones had taken a liking to, and someone obsessed with him.
"I didn't follow up when Beau first mentioned this, because I was actually working with the Spellguard that day. He says it was taken care of this morning, and that they did remember the rules."
Alustriel had to chuckle at that. "Confusion reigned, apparently, for the man and his dog. The dog has been confiscated and given over to the temple of Silvanus to see if it can be rehabilitated from a very abused life. The man is being held for attempting violence in one of the public areas. The ranger is staying at the Cloister, and will not be leaving until the dispute airing.
"The Ladyservant is asking that I preside over that day's grievances, due to the unusual nature of the ranger involved."
"This part I had not heard?" Methri invited.
"Then you have been working too hard, and should visit with your cousin here, as I am certain Kolarven has all of the gossip." Alustriel smiled. "It is the drow that Storm cautioned me to listen for, and I think I need to invite Dove to finally give me the full story behind her involvement in this ranger's life."
"Fill me in when you get it? I knew Calimac was telling tales about a drow ranger, but didn't know he was in our city." Methri looked at Beau intently. "You could have mentioned."
Alustriel had the impression of Beau's disdain, and Methri sighed even louder.
"What did he say?" she asked.
"That what a being looks like has no bearing here. Kindness is more important."
That, Alustriel thought, was quite the right way to look at it.
Drizzt was sitting with Leaf Grevaine, prepared to tell his version of the events near Maldobar, absolutely keeping his emotions calm by force of will alone.
The rainbow of faerie dragons present included the papa and two immature ones he'd rescued, which had him focusing on them frequently to keep his mouth closed against the villainous tale McGristle spun.
"I tell you all, he's a murderer," McGristle accused one more time, and that was when an elf in the spectators decided enough was enough.
"He was never a murderer, but you? You are — though 'were' might be appropriate now," the elf said as he stood and let his face be seen. "Begging your pardon, Lady and gentle beings, but my name is Kellindil, and this man is a liar."
Alustriel's lips thinned. "In interest of fairness, as you are a witness to events that have been aired, continue."
The crowd that had come to enjoy the spectacle of grievances being settled murmured as an elf spoke in defense of a drow. Others, though, noticed how chalky pale the man raising doubt on the ranger's nature had gone.
"My name is Kellindil, and I was the scout in Ranger Dove Falconhand's party during these events. I stayed to watch over the drow… and in time, had taken McGristle prisoner for inciting orcs to attack the grove of a blind ranger by name of Montolio DeBrouchee."
"Some creature possessed of magical speed freed the bounty hunter," Kellindil said. "And while it distracted me, McGristle tackled me, then strangled me to death. Fortunately," and he paused to actually look at the ranger, "Dove chose to come ask me about your first winter, and discovered my body's remains.
"She took pity on me, because I am on the younger side for a wood elf." He inclined his head to Drizzt who was stunned speechless, but very relieved.
"You've only his word!" McGristle finally managed to get out.
"No one invokes one of my family without being certain of the truth of the matter," Alustriel told the noisome man. "As my temperament toward lying about them is rather well-known.
"Silver Watch, take your orders from Leaf Grevaine, as I know DeBrouchee was one of Mielikki's," she said, "in regards to Roddy McGristle. Drizzt Do'Urden, do you feel a need to speak, given you were the one being maligned."
"I am relieved to know that Kellindil lives, and merely wish to never see the bounty hunter again."
Alustriel smiled at him for that, then nodded, waiting for Grevaine to move to the Silver Watch — who had quite handily boxed McGristle in and clapped irons on him after a small tussle — so that the next set of grievances could be heard.
Drizzt shifted out of the front spot with Grevaine gone, going to where the elf was moving to the back of the crowd in this open venue.
"I am glad you have a new chance to live," he said, once he'd managed to catch Kellindil's attention. "Thank you."
Kellindil tipped his chin up. "I was wrong then, about too much. But you are a good man, Drizzt Do'Urden, and I hope you fare well." He left it at that, continuing on his own way out, leaving Drizzt without words, even as the papa faerie dragon and the young fledglings came to roost on him.
Maybe… maybe he was finding his own place finally.
