The Legend of Drizzt

R . A . S A L V A T O R E“I am Hengredda of Starshine,” he said in his beautiful andresonant voice. He gave a little chuckle. “It seems that I am allthat is left of Starshine.”He shrugged, as if that was simply the accepted way of war,which to frost giants it surely was.“I wish to go to Shining White and Jarl Fimmel Orelson,”the giant explained. “I wish to tell him that the war is ended.”“And why would ye wish to do such a thing as that?” a skepticalBruenor asked.“So that Jarl Orelson ends his preparations to continue thewar,” Hengredda said with surprising candor.“Are ye sayin’ he’s meaning to come back with his boys?”Emerus Warcrown demanded.The frost giant shrugged. “If there is war, Jarl Orelson willfight. If there is war no more, he will not.”Bruenor turned back to regard the other dwarf kings beforehe responded, mostly seeking the approval of King Emerus,who was old and wise and had been through this many timesbefore. When Emerus nodded, the red-bearded dwarf turnedback to the frost giant.“Ye go and tell Jarl Orelson what I telled Lorgru here,” Bruenorinstructed. “He stays away and we’ll leave him—we’ll leave yeall—be. But if a dwarf o’ the Silver Marches falls to the blade of afrost giant, then tell your Jarl Orelson that we’ll be melting ShiningWhite to a puddle, aye, and one red with giant blood, don’t ye doubt.”“You boast loudly for such a little creature,” Hengreddaremarked.Drizzt, Catti-brie, and all the dwarves around gasped at that,expecting Bruenor to spring upon the giant and throttle him.King Harnoth even started forward threateningly, but Bruenorswung out an arm and held him back.Bruenor just stood there and smiled, staring at Hengreddafor a long, long while.“Nothin’ worth sayin’ to the like o’ yerself,” said Bruenor.“I telled ye what was what, so do what ye want with it. But take32