Posted on: Monday, 29 June 2009
“Cassandra of Bhaal,” the dragon rumbled slowly, drawing out the sibilant 'ss' into a hiss. “And Imoen of Candlekeep. I have watched your progress with great interest.”
So, my reputation precedes me. Cassie felt her lips twitch in amusement, despite the gravity of the situation. “I must be grand indeed, to have attracted the attention of a dragon.”
“Silence!” it roared, spreading its wings until the tips brushed each side of the cavern. “I will tell you when you may speak!”
Imoen shot Cassandra a murderous look, then bowed her head and did a low curtsy. “Our apologies. You honor us, Lady.”
“I’m sure I do, but flattery is not why I have allowed you to come here. You are here to serve a purpose.”
“Of course,” Cassandra grumbled, but the warrior’s snide mutter was too soft to carry to the beast’s great ears.
“The two you seek,” Adalon explained, “this Bodhi and Jon Irenicus – I believe they have made a deal with the drow in Ust Natha for their own safe passage... and a way to tip the scales against the elves of the world above. Irenicus bargained with my most prized possession. He violated my lair and stole from me. They have taken my eggs.”
Imoen’s soft gasp of shock brought Cassie’s inquisitive eyes to her. The look of sympathy on the girl’s face was genuine. The fighter frowned. If Firkraag and Adalon were the standard of draconic politeness, this sounded less like a crime and more like Irenicus doing the world a favor. On the other hand, Imoen knew a lot more about dragons than she did, and wouldn't react that way for nothing. Maybe it was better to let her take the lead.
“I have been informed that to move from my lair is to cause the destruction of my eggs,” said Adalon. “It is the final straw in a long list of atrocities I have been witness to. You must retrieve them for me. Do this, and I will reveal a safe escape route to leave the Underdark, one that emerges close to where Irenicus plots his next move.”
That, at least, was a worthwhile offer. The redhead nodded. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“If Irenicus delivered the eggs to the drow,” Imoen said thoughtfully, lips pursed in concentration, “how would we get them back? We can’t just walk into the city unnoticed, Lady.” She cut off Cassie’s response just as the older sister opened her mouth. “And an open attack would be a total disaster.”
The large reptilian head nodded slowly. “I do not ask you to assault the city, rather to enter it with subtlety. You will take the identity of a group of drow I dispatched recently, a party from another city destined for Ust Natha. I will transform you, and you will be able to pass among the Drow with ease. They will not see through the fiction I create. When you arrive at the gate, tell them you are from the city of Ched Nasad, and that you seek sanctuary within Ust Natha.”
