Sojourn - Chapter Nineteen
Oct. 1st, 2023 06:58 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 saw a pretty epic battle between two rangers (one old, one baby) and a shit ton of orcs, worgs, and at least one giant. Also, perpetual annoyance Roddy McGristle is finally about to face some comeuppance, it seems, at the hands of the elf, Kellindil.
So this chapter starts by reuniting us with the Quickling Tephanis. Tephanis is pretty upset about the whole lacking a foot thing. Apparently sprinting is tricky, and he ends up veering to one side and crashing into a bush or a tree.
He's also got company: a growly yellow dog. Tephanis doesn't think said dog really compares to his old companion, Caroak, but the winter wolf is dead now. Alas. Tephanis thinks homicidal thoughts:
Tephanis wanted to slice its throat, wanted to run up and down the length of the mangy animal, cutting and slashing at every inch. He saw the sun riding low in the sky, though, and knew that the beast might soon prove valuable.
Tephanis quickly restrains the dog, basically by taking a rope fastened about the dogs neck and circling a tree three times. The dog chases and gets himself flipped right over. Aw, poor puppy.
Tephanis has a plan though, and thus he seeks out an old friend:
He found Roddy McGristle sitting at the base of a huge tree, his arms pulled behind him and tied at the wrists around the trunk. The mountain man seemed a wretched thing-as wretched as the dog-but Tephanis was out of options. Ulgulu and Kempfana were dead, Caroak was dead, and Graul, after the disaster at the grove, had actually placed a bounty on the quickling’s head.
That left only Roddy-not much of a choice, but Tephanis had no desire to survive on his own ever again. He sped, unnoticed, to the back of the tree and whispered in the mountain man’s ear. “You-will-be-in-Maldobar-tomorrow.”
Roddy initially thinks Tephanis is just teasing him and reacts with his usual tact and diplomacy, which almost gets Kellindil's attention. Tephanis unties his hands and tells him to keep still.
Kellindil, sadly, doesn't notice. He starts to explain that he'll be sending for Dove Falconhand when they get back to Maldobar. Montolio is a friend of hers. Roddy tries to insist that he's a friend of Roddy's too, but Kellindil points out that the whole allied-with-Graul thing disproves that.
Roddy had no immediate rebuttal, but Tephanis supplied one. A buzzing noise came from behind the elf and Kellindil, dropping a hand to his sword, spun about.
“What manner of being are you?” he asked the quickling, his eyes wide in amazement.
Kellindil never learned the answer, for Roddy came up suddenly behind him and slammed him to the ground. Kellindil was a seasoned fighter, but in close he was no match for the sheer brawn of Roddy McGristle. Roddy’s huge and dirty hands closed on the slender elf's throat.
...oh dear.
Tephanis informs Roddy that he's got his dog tied to a tree. He explains what he wants: he likes having big friends. Roddy's on board, explaining that he's out to deal with a drow. Tephanis isn't on board with this. Tephanis doesn't like the thought of dealing with Drizzt again, so he lies, saying Drizzt is dead. Roddy has no reason to disbelieve him, given that Tephanis had led him to Drizzt once before.
Roddy asks about Montolio - Tephanis says he's alive, but let him live. A lot of elves have joined him. Roddy accepts that. His grudge was against Drizzt after all. So they bury poor Kellindil, and head out for the west.
This makes things all nice, peaceful and perfect for a time skip. We're told that the summer passes peacefully. Drizzt picks up ranger skills like he was born to it. We see a sample lesson when Montolio sends him to meet and pet a deer. He chooses the wrong approach, and startles it. Montolio however gets in close enough to pat its rump before it flees. He'd used terrain, as observed via a hawk's flight.
Drizzt calls him out for this, claiming that Hooter told him. This pleases Montolio. Drizzt is now confident enough to dispute what Montolio claims. It does occur to me that I don't remember ever seeing Drizzt talk to animals directly the way Montolio does. Hm. Maybe he will later?
A week later, Drizzt finally gets to pet the deer himself. Aw.
At some point after summer wanes, Montolio asks Drizzt about his future plans. Drizzt hasn't really thought about it, on account of being like the happiest he's ever been. Aw. (There's also a cute bit where, during this discussion, we're told that Guen is so comfortably wrapped up in the blankets on Drizzt's bedroll that he thinks he might have to unsummon her to get her out. Cats.)
Drizzt isn't sure what Montolio means. He wants to stay, at least as long as Montolio's not throwing him out. But Drizzt is a young elf, while Montolio is an old human. So what then?
Drizzt doesn't really know. Montolio urges him to think about it, telling him that there's a wide world full of pain and joy. He wants Drizzt to find his place.
It's not very subtle foreshadowing, but well...
We're told the first snow comes early. Drizzt had been out playing with Guen. When he comes back, he finds the campfire burning low. Hooter is still and quiet on a low branch. And Guen is suddenly somber and still herself.
“Mooshie?” Drizzt called softly, approaching the old ranger’s den. He pushed aside the blanket and used it to screen the light from the embers of the dying campfire, letting his eyes slip into the infrared spectrum.
He remained there for a very long time, watching the last wisps of heat depart from the ranger’s body. But if Mooshie was cold, his contented smile emanated warmth.
Aw.
So Drizzt buries his friend and spends the rest of the winter doing his chores and wondering. Hooter starts to come by less, and eventually leaves for good. In the spring, Drizzt realizes that it's time for him to go too.
He packs some practical supplies and some of Montolio's more interesting books, arms himself up, takes a final walk around the grove, and then calls Guen from the astral plane, so they can leave with suitable dramatic sorrow. The chapter ends here.
So this chapter starts by reuniting us with the Quickling Tephanis. Tephanis is pretty upset about the whole lacking a foot thing. Apparently sprinting is tricky, and he ends up veering to one side and crashing into a bush or a tree.
He's also got company: a growly yellow dog. Tephanis doesn't think said dog really compares to his old companion, Caroak, but the winter wolf is dead now. Alas. Tephanis thinks homicidal thoughts:
Tephanis wanted to slice its throat, wanted to run up and down the length of the mangy animal, cutting and slashing at every inch. He saw the sun riding low in the sky, though, and knew that the beast might soon prove valuable.
Tephanis quickly restrains the dog, basically by taking a rope fastened about the dogs neck and circling a tree three times. The dog chases and gets himself flipped right over. Aw, poor puppy.
Tephanis has a plan though, and thus he seeks out an old friend:
He found Roddy McGristle sitting at the base of a huge tree, his arms pulled behind him and tied at the wrists around the trunk. The mountain man seemed a wretched thing-as wretched as the dog-but Tephanis was out of options. Ulgulu and Kempfana were dead, Caroak was dead, and Graul, after the disaster at the grove, had actually placed a bounty on the quickling’s head.
That left only Roddy-not much of a choice, but Tephanis had no desire to survive on his own ever again. He sped, unnoticed, to the back of the tree and whispered in the mountain man’s ear. “You-will-be-in-Maldobar-tomorrow.”
Roddy initially thinks Tephanis is just teasing him and reacts with his usual tact and diplomacy, which almost gets Kellindil's attention. Tephanis unties his hands and tells him to keep still.
Kellindil, sadly, doesn't notice. He starts to explain that he'll be sending for Dove Falconhand when they get back to Maldobar. Montolio is a friend of hers. Roddy tries to insist that he's a friend of Roddy's too, but Kellindil points out that the whole allied-with-Graul thing disproves that.
Roddy had no immediate rebuttal, but Tephanis supplied one. A buzzing noise came from behind the elf and Kellindil, dropping a hand to his sword, spun about.
“What manner of being are you?” he asked the quickling, his eyes wide in amazement.
Kellindil never learned the answer, for Roddy came up suddenly behind him and slammed him to the ground. Kellindil was a seasoned fighter, but in close he was no match for the sheer brawn of Roddy McGristle. Roddy’s huge and dirty hands closed on the slender elf's throat.
...oh dear.
Tephanis informs Roddy that he's got his dog tied to a tree. He explains what he wants: he likes having big friends. Roddy's on board, explaining that he's out to deal with a drow. Tephanis isn't on board with this. Tephanis doesn't like the thought of dealing with Drizzt again, so he lies, saying Drizzt is dead. Roddy has no reason to disbelieve him, given that Tephanis had led him to Drizzt once before.
Roddy asks about Montolio - Tephanis says he's alive, but let him live. A lot of elves have joined him. Roddy accepts that. His grudge was against Drizzt after all. So they bury poor Kellindil, and head out for the west.
This makes things all nice, peaceful and perfect for a time skip. We're told that the summer passes peacefully. Drizzt picks up ranger skills like he was born to it. We see a sample lesson when Montolio sends him to meet and pet a deer. He chooses the wrong approach, and startles it. Montolio however gets in close enough to pat its rump before it flees. He'd used terrain, as observed via a hawk's flight.
Drizzt calls him out for this, claiming that Hooter told him. This pleases Montolio. Drizzt is now confident enough to dispute what Montolio claims. It does occur to me that I don't remember ever seeing Drizzt talk to animals directly the way Montolio does. Hm. Maybe he will later?
A week later, Drizzt finally gets to pet the deer himself. Aw.
At some point after summer wanes, Montolio asks Drizzt about his future plans. Drizzt hasn't really thought about it, on account of being like the happiest he's ever been. Aw. (There's also a cute bit where, during this discussion, we're told that Guen is so comfortably wrapped up in the blankets on Drizzt's bedroll that he thinks he might have to unsummon her to get her out. Cats.)
Drizzt isn't sure what Montolio means. He wants to stay, at least as long as Montolio's not throwing him out. But Drizzt is a young elf, while Montolio is an old human. So what then?
Drizzt doesn't really know. Montolio urges him to think about it, telling him that there's a wide world full of pain and joy. He wants Drizzt to find his place.
It's not very subtle foreshadowing, but well...
We're told the first snow comes early. Drizzt had been out playing with Guen. When he comes back, he finds the campfire burning low. Hooter is still and quiet on a low branch. And Guen is suddenly somber and still herself.
“Mooshie?” Drizzt called softly, approaching the old ranger’s den. He pushed aside the blanket and used it to screen the light from the embers of the dying campfire, letting his eyes slip into the infrared spectrum.
He remained there for a very long time, watching the last wisps of heat depart from the ranger’s body. But if Mooshie was cold, his contented smile emanated warmth.
Aw.
So Drizzt buries his friend and spends the rest of the winter doing his chores and wondering. Hooter starts to come by less, and eventually leaves for good. In the spring, Drizzt realizes that it's time for him to go too.
He packs some practical supplies and some of Montolio's more interesting books, arms himself up, takes a final walk around the grove, and then calls Guen from the astral plane, so they can leave with suitable dramatic sorrow. The chapter ends here.