Exile - Chapter 10
Aug. 22nd, 2022 10:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kalinara posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
i_read_whatSo last time, we got to see the svirnebli side of things, as they observe the drow movements and figure out exactly what they want. And I decided I'd probably enjoy a book that was entirely about the svirnebli in their own right.
This chapter takes us back to Drizzt and Belwar. We're told that Drizzt has gone out with Seldig and his other new friends "many times" as the days pass. The young deep gnomes have learned from what happened before and, on Belwar's advice, have been sticking to "calm and unobstrusive games."
Aww. That's really sweet. I'm glad to see Drizzt getting a chance to be a kid, and I like that his new friends are willing and able to accommodate his needs.
And the routine is helping, we're told. Drizzt's observers, even King Schnicktick himself, have come to agree that Drizzt can be trusted. This leads to something quite emotional!
“You have a visitor,” Belwar said to Drizzt one morning. Drizzt followed the burrow-warden’s movements to the stone door, thinking Seldig had come to call on him early this day. When Belwar opened the door, though, Drizzt nearly toppled over in surprise, for it was no svirfneblin that bounded into the stone structure. Rather, it was a huge and black feline form.
“Guenhwyvar!” Drizzt cried out, dropping into a low crouch to catch the rushing panther. Guenhwyvar bowled him over, playfully swatting him with a great paw.
Aww!
Belwar gives Drizzt his figurine back, telling him that the councilor charged with examining it was sorry to part with it, but that Guen is Drizzt's friend first and foremost. Moreover, Belwar tells him, he's also been permitted to return to the House Center and reclaim his weapons and armor!
Drizzt is moved by the trust but also a bit uneasy. He remembers smashing the shit out of the stone basilisk with simple poles - what could he do with weapons?
But Belwar gets it and promises that they'll keep the weapons at Belwar's house, safe, but available when Drizzt needs them.
“I am in your debt,” Drizzt replied. “In the debt of all Blingdenstone.”
“We do not consider friendship a debt,” the burrow-warden replied with a wink. He left Drizzt and Guenhwyvar then and went back into the cave-room of his house, allowing the two dear friends a private reunion.
Awww.
Okay, fine, Salvatore. You've got me. I'm not made of stone. This is a cute chapter (tm) and I'm a little worried about what will happen later.
Drizzt is also a little disturbed. He is thinking about how Masoj had used Guen to hunt down the fleeing miners. Guen seems unbothered and happy to play with the young gnomes. But Drizzt is having trouble dismissing "the errors of his past."
This comes up again, some days later. Belwar and Drizzt are eating breakfast, when someone calls from outside. A mining expedition's been planned and they want the "Most Honored Burrow-Warden" to accompany them. Belwar states that this happens before every expedition. It's a courtesy call. The crestfallen acceptance of the folks outside when he refuses would indicate otherwise, though.
Drizzt is concerned about Belwar, who he's noticed is a little too reclusive in his otherwise open society. He tries to figure out why Belwar is refusing to go. He suggests that Belwar feels unworthy or inadequate because of his mithril hands. Belwar disagrees with that, stating he can cut rock faster than any of them, and can totally take on monsters if needed.
Drizzt wonders then if Belwar's bound to watch over him instead. But Belwar disagrees with that too. Drizzt has been given his weapons back. They trust him now.
Finally, Drizzt keys in on the big issue. Belwar still blames himself for the loss of his people on "that evil day". Drizzt/the narrative manage to make it about him, and a bit of a humble brag to boot:
Drizzt ran a hand through his thick white mane, not really knowing how to respond to Belwar’s dilemma. Drizzt personally had led the drow party against the svirfnebli mining group, and he knew that no blame for the disaster could rightly be placed on any of the deep gnomes. Yet, how could Drizzt possibly explain that to Belwar?
Belwar, you were up against a lavender-eyed Marty Stu. You didn't have a prayer.
But credit where its due, Drizzt really is trying to reach Belwar. And his slight self-absorption actually seems to be helping.
“I remember that fated day,” Drizzt began tentatively. “Vividly I remember it, as if that evil moment will be frozen in my thoughts, never to recede.”
“No more than in mine,” the burrow-warden whispered. Drizzt nodded his accord. “Equally, though,” he said, “for I find myself caught within the very same web of guilt that entraps you.”
Belwar looked at him curiously, not really understanding.
“It was I who led the drow patrol,” Drizzt explained. “I found your troupe, errantly believing you to be marauders intending to descend upon Menzoberranzan.”
Belwar points out that if it weren't Drizzt than it'd have been someone else. But no one who could lead them as well as Drizzt could. The wilds are his domain. He defeated the Earth Elemental too. If not for Drizzt, then the battle would have been equal.
I mean it's true, but I also love that Drizzt helps Belwar with his guilt through the art of bragging. It's actually pretty cute, and Belwar seems to agree. He's smiling in spite of himself. And to be fair, Drizzt KNOWS that his bragging is over the top, but the levity helps.
They get to the real reason of Belwar's guilt. He'd led the gnomes so close to Menzoberranzan to pursue a rich cache of ore. Drizzt turns his words back on him: if not him, then another. He points out that the svirnebli don't blame Belwar for the mistake. And if Belwar thinks that they pity them, which Drizzt doesn't believe is true, then Belwar should go out there and show them what he can do.
It's starting to work, and Drizzt tries another area of attack, stating that he thought Belwar Dissengulp had more courage. This works. More than that, Belwar demands that Drizzt get his own weapons. If Belwar's going mining, Drizzt is coming too. Hah.
-
So Drizzt gets to join a new patrol. The leader's a bit skeptical at first, but accepting. Belwar gets to show his stuff. Drizzt (and Guen) act as guards. Eventually folk get used to him. The patrol is mostly uneventful, though toward the end, something interesting happens: a goblin tribe is nearby.
The svirnebli decide to hunker down and hope the goblins pass by. They're just goblins, Belwar explains, but they don't want a fight. Drizzt gets to muse on how different that is from a drow patrol: if it were a drow patrol, the goblins would already be dead or captured.
Drizzt though has an idea. He gets Belwar to help him explain it to the group leader (citing his limited command of the language). The group leader is on board with whatever the plan is, and wants to take part. He leaves Belwar in charge of the group, strips off his gear and weapons and comes along with Drizzt.
Ah, it's a scare tactic, like we saw in the Icewind Dale trilogy. Drizzt is playing mean scary drow, the leader (Brickers is his name, btw) is playing prisoner. He declares that this region belongs to the drow and basically just terrifies the chieftain and tribe away. (He gets some help from Belwar and the other miners, who add to the scene with some cacophonous banging).
It's a team effort and everyone is very happy! And now, we're told, Belwar will never again flinch at being called "Most Honored Burrow-Warden."
Awww.
I'm realizing that I like Drizzt a hell of a lot more when he's helping other people deal with THEIR angst and trauma. That's when we get to see Drizzt at his empathetic and compassionate best. And weirdly, I don't remember that happening very often in the series. It's usually all about Drizzt's own angst.
It's a shame, really.
--
Someone else is less happy though:
The spirit-wraith was confused. Just as Zaknafein had begun to believe that his prey was within the svirfneblin city, the magical spells that Malice had placed upon him sensed Drizzt’s presence in the tunnels. Luckily for Drizzt and the svirfneblin miners, the spirit-wraith had been far away when he caught the scent. Zaknafein worked his way back through the tunnels, dodging deep gnome patrols. Every potential encounter he avoided proved a struggle for Zaknafein, for Matron Malice, back on her throne in Menzoberranzan, grew increasingly impatient and agitated.
Malice wanted the taste of blood, but Zaknafein kept to his purpose, closing in on Drizzt. But then, suddenly, the scent was gone.
Oh, zombie dad. But it's interesting too. Our zombie isn't always mindless. He isn't always inclined to murder everything in his path. At least not without Malice's influence.
As the poor goblin tribe discovers, when a NEW single dark elf stalks his way into the group and shoves his sword into poor chieftain Bruck's throat. By the end, eleven goblins are dead. Back in Menzoberranzan, Malice is enjoying matters immensely.
Back in Menzoberranzan, in the anteroom to the chapel of House Do’Urden, Matron Malice rested, thoroughly exhausted and momentarily sated. She had felt every kill as Zaknafein made it, had felt a burst of ecstacy every time her spirit-wraith’s sword had plunged into another victim.
Malice pushed away her frustrations and her impatience, her confidence renewed by the pleasures of Zaknafein’s cruel slaughter. How great Malice’s ecstacy would be when the spirit-wraith at last encountered her traitorous son!
I feel like there's room for a very interesting psycho-sexual analysis of Malice's sexualized sadism enacted THROUGH her enslaved ex-lover. But thankfully for all of us, I'm not really equipped to write it.
The chapter ends here.
This chapter takes us back to Drizzt and Belwar. We're told that Drizzt has gone out with Seldig and his other new friends "many times" as the days pass. The young deep gnomes have learned from what happened before and, on Belwar's advice, have been sticking to "calm and unobstrusive games."
Aww. That's really sweet. I'm glad to see Drizzt getting a chance to be a kid, and I like that his new friends are willing and able to accommodate his needs.
And the routine is helping, we're told. Drizzt's observers, even King Schnicktick himself, have come to agree that Drizzt can be trusted. This leads to something quite emotional!
“You have a visitor,” Belwar said to Drizzt one morning. Drizzt followed the burrow-warden’s movements to the stone door, thinking Seldig had come to call on him early this day. When Belwar opened the door, though, Drizzt nearly toppled over in surprise, for it was no svirfneblin that bounded into the stone structure. Rather, it was a huge and black feline form.
“Guenhwyvar!” Drizzt cried out, dropping into a low crouch to catch the rushing panther. Guenhwyvar bowled him over, playfully swatting him with a great paw.
Aww!
Belwar gives Drizzt his figurine back, telling him that the councilor charged with examining it was sorry to part with it, but that Guen is Drizzt's friend first and foremost. Moreover, Belwar tells him, he's also been permitted to return to the House Center and reclaim his weapons and armor!
Drizzt is moved by the trust but also a bit uneasy. He remembers smashing the shit out of the stone basilisk with simple poles - what could he do with weapons?
But Belwar gets it and promises that they'll keep the weapons at Belwar's house, safe, but available when Drizzt needs them.
“I am in your debt,” Drizzt replied. “In the debt of all Blingdenstone.”
“We do not consider friendship a debt,” the burrow-warden replied with a wink. He left Drizzt and Guenhwyvar then and went back into the cave-room of his house, allowing the two dear friends a private reunion.
Awww.
Okay, fine, Salvatore. You've got me. I'm not made of stone. This is a cute chapter (tm) and I'm a little worried about what will happen later.
Drizzt is also a little disturbed. He is thinking about how Masoj had used Guen to hunt down the fleeing miners. Guen seems unbothered and happy to play with the young gnomes. But Drizzt is having trouble dismissing "the errors of his past."
This comes up again, some days later. Belwar and Drizzt are eating breakfast, when someone calls from outside. A mining expedition's been planned and they want the "Most Honored Burrow-Warden" to accompany them. Belwar states that this happens before every expedition. It's a courtesy call. The crestfallen acceptance of the folks outside when he refuses would indicate otherwise, though.
Drizzt is concerned about Belwar, who he's noticed is a little too reclusive in his otherwise open society. He tries to figure out why Belwar is refusing to go. He suggests that Belwar feels unworthy or inadequate because of his mithril hands. Belwar disagrees with that, stating he can cut rock faster than any of them, and can totally take on monsters if needed.
Drizzt wonders then if Belwar's bound to watch over him instead. But Belwar disagrees with that too. Drizzt has been given his weapons back. They trust him now.
Finally, Drizzt keys in on the big issue. Belwar still blames himself for the loss of his people on "that evil day". Drizzt/the narrative manage to make it about him, and a bit of a humble brag to boot:
Drizzt ran a hand through his thick white mane, not really knowing how to respond to Belwar’s dilemma. Drizzt personally had led the drow party against the svirfnebli mining group, and he knew that no blame for the disaster could rightly be placed on any of the deep gnomes. Yet, how could Drizzt possibly explain that to Belwar?
Belwar, you were up against a lavender-eyed Marty Stu. You didn't have a prayer.
But credit where its due, Drizzt really is trying to reach Belwar. And his slight self-absorption actually seems to be helping.
“I remember that fated day,” Drizzt began tentatively. “Vividly I remember it, as if that evil moment will be frozen in my thoughts, never to recede.”
“No more than in mine,” the burrow-warden whispered. Drizzt nodded his accord. “Equally, though,” he said, “for I find myself caught within the very same web of guilt that entraps you.”
Belwar looked at him curiously, not really understanding.
“It was I who led the drow patrol,” Drizzt explained. “I found your troupe, errantly believing you to be marauders intending to descend upon Menzoberranzan.”
Belwar points out that if it weren't Drizzt than it'd have been someone else. But no one who could lead them as well as Drizzt could. The wilds are his domain. He defeated the Earth Elemental too. If not for Drizzt, then the battle would have been equal.
I mean it's true, but I also love that Drizzt helps Belwar with his guilt through the art of bragging. It's actually pretty cute, and Belwar seems to agree. He's smiling in spite of himself. And to be fair, Drizzt KNOWS that his bragging is over the top, but the levity helps.
They get to the real reason of Belwar's guilt. He'd led the gnomes so close to Menzoberranzan to pursue a rich cache of ore. Drizzt turns his words back on him: if not him, then another. He points out that the svirnebli don't blame Belwar for the mistake. And if Belwar thinks that they pity them, which Drizzt doesn't believe is true, then Belwar should go out there and show them what he can do.
It's starting to work, and Drizzt tries another area of attack, stating that he thought Belwar Dissengulp had more courage. This works. More than that, Belwar demands that Drizzt get his own weapons. If Belwar's going mining, Drizzt is coming too. Hah.
-
So Drizzt gets to join a new patrol. The leader's a bit skeptical at first, but accepting. Belwar gets to show his stuff. Drizzt (and Guen) act as guards. Eventually folk get used to him. The patrol is mostly uneventful, though toward the end, something interesting happens: a goblin tribe is nearby.
The svirnebli decide to hunker down and hope the goblins pass by. They're just goblins, Belwar explains, but they don't want a fight. Drizzt gets to muse on how different that is from a drow patrol: if it were a drow patrol, the goblins would already be dead or captured.
Drizzt though has an idea. He gets Belwar to help him explain it to the group leader (citing his limited command of the language). The group leader is on board with whatever the plan is, and wants to take part. He leaves Belwar in charge of the group, strips off his gear and weapons and comes along with Drizzt.
Ah, it's a scare tactic, like we saw in the Icewind Dale trilogy. Drizzt is playing mean scary drow, the leader (Brickers is his name, btw) is playing prisoner. He declares that this region belongs to the drow and basically just terrifies the chieftain and tribe away. (He gets some help from Belwar and the other miners, who add to the scene with some cacophonous banging).
It's a team effort and everyone is very happy! And now, we're told, Belwar will never again flinch at being called "Most Honored Burrow-Warden."
Awww.
I'm realizing that I like Drizzt a hell of a lot more when he's helping other people deal with THEIR angst and trauma. That's when we get to see Drizzt at his empathetic and compassionate best. And weirdly, I don't remember that happening very often in the series. It's usually all about Drizzt's own angst.
It's a shame, really.
--
Someone else is less happy though:
The spirit-wraith was confused. Just as Zaknafein had begun to believe that his prey was within the svirfneblin city, the magical spells that Malice had placed upon him sensed Drizzt’s presence in the tunnels. Luckily for Drizzt and the svirfneblin miners, the spirit-wraith had been far away when he caught the scent. Zaknafein worked his way back through the tunnels, dodging deep gnome patrols. Every potential encounter he avoided proved a struggle for Zaknafein, for Matron Malice, back on her throne in Menzoberranzan, grew increasingly impatient and agitated.
Malice wanted the taste of blood, but Zaknafein kept to his purpose, closing in on Drizzt. But then, suddenly, the scent was gone.
Oh, zombie dad. But it's interesting too. Our zombie isn't always mindless. He isn't always inclined to murder everything in his path. At least not without Malice's influence.
As the poor goblin tribe discovers, when a NEW single dark elf stalks his way into the group and shoves his sword into poor chieftain Bruck's throat. By the end, eleven goblins are dead. Back in Menzoberranzan, Malice is enjoying matters immensely.
Back in Menzoberranzan, in the anteroom to the chapel of House Do’Urden, Matron Malice rested, thoroughly exhausted and momentarily sated. She had felt every kill as Zaknafein made it, had felt a burst of ecstacy every time her spirit-wraith’s sword had plunged into another victim.
Malice pushed away her frustrations and her impatience, her confidence renewed by the pleasures of Zaknafein’s cruel slaughter. How great Malice’s ecstacy would be when the spirit-wraith at last encountered her traitorous son!
I feel like there's room for a very interesting psycho-sexual analysis of Malice's sexualized sadism enacted THROUGH her enslaved ex-lover. But thankfully for all of us, I'm not really equipped to write it.
The chapter ends here.
no subject
Date: 2022-08-23 06:42 pm (UTC)That aside, I could have sworn there was a scene in Exile where Jarlaxle had to do a business meeting in the tunnels with a Svirfnebli contact, and said contact being a bit frustrated with how much he had to fork over to pay for intel, but that's either later on in this book, or in a different book altogether.
no subject
Date: 2022-08-23 08:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-08-23 09:10 pm (UTC)