Adobe Acrobat Format - The Grey Company

and coughing. He threw Ebonstarr off him and stood. Rik felt his left arm go numb. Poison! He fumbled for
the amulet around his neck. The amulet wasn't there! He looked around and saw a figure standing by a tree
twirling the amulet in his hand. It was the human that had been in the inn. "Greetings, Riklaun. I am Gaden
Zra. Looking for this?"
Riklaun coughed up some sort of purple fluid and dropped to his knees. He kept heaving the purple
phlegm. Ebonstarr walked towards Riklaun. "Ultrinnan Whol Lloth...," Ebonstarr began but stopped,
reconsidering her plans. "No, I think I'll save you for a little while. I think you'll make an excellent slave."
Chapter 5
Darkness prevailed inside the dank cavern. All that could be seen was a pair of glowing eyes. The
eyes dimmed and then disappeared. A low muttering could be heard. Suddenly a light flared up out of
nowhere, illuminating the cavern.
An elf crouched behind a rock, the light above him. He stood, and started to walk towards the
corridor leading out of the cave. He wore sturdy plate mail that shone in the dim light. The sword he
carried, also shone, but of its own accord.
"Riklaun, is it safe?" a voice whispered. From the shadows came another elf, though he looked as
if he had gone to war with the local dark elf city and lost.
"We are safe for the moment," Riklaun said. "No guards appear present. Ebonstarr seems lax in her
duties. Had she wiped my mind of all my spells, not just the combat ones, we would still be captive."
"We must hurry Rik, I cannot wait to see Nalynn." The dirty elf said. "And get a bath and fresh
change of clothes."
"Do not worry my friend, I will get you out of here." Riklaun said. "We both have missed you for a
long time. Once we get you to the surface, we will bring you back to full health. You have missed much in
your long stay down here."
"I know, from what you tell me, Nalynn is not the same little halfling I used to know. You said she
became an elf through re-incarnation. I have not seen my love for over nine months." He said.
Suddenly, from down the corridor came a loud bang and a bright light streaked towards them.
Blinded, they could not move out of the way of the lightning bolt. It caught Riklaun full in the chest and
threw him into the other elf, knocking him away from the path of the bolt. A hardy laugh came from down
the corridor. A dark elf laugh.
"So, you thought you could escape? Ebonstarr will be pleased that I have stopped you from doing
so."
Riklaun got up and rushed towards the dark elf who threw the bolt. He closed the gap quickly,
before the drow could throw another spell. The two fought fiercely with their twin swords. The drow backed
up just enough to cast a darkness spell around them. He laughed.
"You forget, I am also drow, albeit albino." Riklaun said. He pressed in, oblivious of the magical
darkness. Riklaun got the first hit and scored on the drow's left arm. The drow backed up and out of the
darkness. Riklaun leaped over the drow and spun, driving both blades into the drow's back.
Riklaun looked over at the elf that was with him and saw that another drow had come upon the
scene. As he went to help his friend he heard: "This is for Nalynn!" and then a fireball exploded, engulfing
the two elves. Riklaun put up an arm to shield his eyes from the blast. The fireball died out leaving bits of
burning moss and plant-life on the walls. Riklaun looked for the two elves and did not see either.
He ran up to the spot and saw only the charred soot of where they once stood. Riklaun dropped his
swords with a clang. His eyes began to water up and he knelt down. "Braldt...."
* * * * *
Riklaun was wandering through Vilnask with his long time friend Tadsbro, trying to put the death
of Braldt behind him. They worked their way quickly south to Crossergate, stopping only for a quick
banshee or two. They paused at the inn in Vilinask and saw many drow in the back room. They saw him and
instantly recognized him for who he was. After a few choice words and spittle on the floor. Riklaun headed
out.
The two went down to Crossergate inn with little obstacle. A drow came up behind them and told
Riklaun, " When you are ready, Riivin, the hills await." Riklaun turned to him.