The Crystal Shard by R. A. Salvatore Read Free Book Online Page B

hard-pressed to find an answer. Bruenor was right. When the drow had first come to this land, the only one who had shown him any friendship at all was Regis. He often escorted and protected the halfling through the dangerous first legs of the journey from Lonelywood, around the open tundra north of Maer Dualdon and down toward Bryn Shander, when Regis went to the principle city for business or council meetings. They had actually met on one such trek: Regis tried to flee from Drizzt because he'd heard terrible rumors about him. Luckily for both of them, Regis was a halfling who was usually able to keep an open mind about people and make his own judgements concerning their character. It wasn't long before the two were fast friends.
    But to this day, Regis and the dwarves were the only ones in the area who considered the drow a friend. "I do not know why I care," Drizzt answered honestly. His eyes turned back to his ancient homeland, where loyalty was merely a device to gain an advantage over a common foe. "Perhaps I care because I strive to be different from my people," he said, as much to himself as to Bruenor. "Perhaps I care because I am different from my people. I may be more akin to the races of the surface… that is my hope at least. I care because I have to care about something. You are not so different, Bruenor Battlehammer. We care lest our own lives be empty."
    Bruenor cocked a curious eye.
    "You can deny your feelings for the people of Ten-Tbwns to me, but not to yourself."
    "Bah!" Bruenor snorted. "Sure that I care for them! My folk need the trade!"
    "Stubborn," Drizzt mumbled, smiling knowingly. "And Catti-brie?" he pressed. "What of the human girl who was orphaned in the raid those years ago on Termalaine? The waif that you took in and raised as your own child." Bruenor was glad that the cover of night offered some protection from his revealing blush. "She lives with you still, though even you would have to admit that she is able to go back to her own kind. Might it be, perhaps, that you care for her, gruff dwarf?"
    "Aw, shut yer mouth," Bruenor grumbled. "She's a servin' wench and makes my life a bit easier, but don't ye go gettin' sappy about her!"
    "Stubborn," Drizzt reiterated more loudly this time. He had one more card to play in this discussion. "What of myself, then? Dwarves are not overly fond of the light elves, let alone the drow. How do you justify the friendship you have shown me? I have nothing to offer you in return but my own friendship. Why do you care?"
    "Ye bring me news when…" Bruenor stopped short, aware that Drizzt had cornered him.
    But the drow didn't press the issue any further.
    So the friends watched in silence as the lights of Bryn Shander went down, one by one.
    Despite his outward callousness, Bruenor realized how true some of the drow's accusations had rung; he had come to care for the people who had settled on the banks of the three lakes.
    "What do ye mean to do then?" the dwarf asked at length.
    "I mean to warn them," Drizzt replied. "You underestimate your neighbors, Bruenor.
    They're made of tougher stuff than you believe."
    "Agreed," said the dwarf, "but my questions are of their character. Every day we see fightin' on the lakes, an' always over the damned fish. The people cling to their own towns an' goblins take the others, for all they care! Now they've to show me an' mine that they've the will to fight together!"
    Drizzt had to admit the truth of Bruenor's observations. The fishermen had grown more competitive over the last couple of years as the knucklehead trout took to the deeper waters of the lakes and became harder to catch. Cooperation among the towns was at a low point as each town tried to gain an economic advantage over the rival towns on its lake.
    "There is a council in Bryn Shander in two days," Drizzt continued. "I believe that we still have some time before the barbarians come. Though I fear for any delays, I do not believe that we would be able to bring the