***Darkness Rising***
Chapter 1/Part 1

The ebony-skinned elf crouched low in the underbrush, to escape notice from the patrol of elven warriors that was traveling through the forest. This particular patrol of wild elves passed right by his hiding place as if they had not seen him at all. Of course, in his new cloak that constantly shimmered with the colors of the forest, no being, elf or no, would see him unless he wanted to be seen. After the patrol had passed beyond sound and bow range, he stood up and brushed himself off. He had a long way to go to his destination still. He was headed towards the city of Skullport to gain an audience with the priestess of Eilistraee, Quile Veladorn. He was still apprehensive about the ordeal, knowing that he would most likely be seen warily, even by a priestess of a goodly drow goddess. After escaping Menzoberranzan and the evil rule of Lloth, he was on his way to find a sanctuary from the powers of the priestesses of Lloth, no doubt angry at the fact that one of their best weapon masters had eluded their grasp for the final time. Zaknafein, formerly of D�aermon N�achezbaernon, Ninth House of Menzoberranzan had a long and perilous road ahead of him.

***

�Drow? In my forest?� Korlarrin was confused by this statement. There had been incidences of drow raiding parties in the area in the past, but there had been many drow, and their one purpose seemed to be to kill all elves that got in their way. According to the scout, this drow was different.

�Yes, sir. But only one drow, and he did not attack when the patrol went by, he simply hid in the bushes.� The young warrior reported, bowing to the older officer. Korlarrin sighed.

�Garethar, there is no need to bow to me, I have told you that before.� The wild elf passed a hand over the feathered shaft of the spear he carried and looked off into the distance. A drow in his forest. This was quite novel, a drow that seemed pacified, not out to exterminate his tribe.

�Our Kethsar have been monitoring him the entire while he has been in the forest, and he seems to pose no threat to our lands or our people.� Garethar explained while Korlarrin was still thinking. �I believe we should question him, as a precaution.� At this, the older elf turned and looked at the younger with interest.

�Yes, send out another patrol to find this drow. And tell Ryllinn that I need to speak with her immediately.� He said briskly, tapping the point of the spear on the ground. Garethar ran off quickly to call his patrol together and to call Ryllinn from wherever she was studying.

***

Briza, the matron of House Do�Urden, �D�aermon N�achezbaernon� in the ancient texts, snapped her whip furiously at the new patron of the house, Solaufein. He ducked his head, directing his angry gaze at the floor instead of at the angry matron.

�You have not found him yet! That is unacceptable!� She screamed at him, lashing her whip again fiercely at the drow. �I expected Zaknafein to have been killed by now.� she said, thinking about lashing him again, but deciding, in a rare moment of inspiration, not to.

�You may speak.� her chilled voice rang out, directed at the patron.

�If I may, Matron Briza, I have sent our best warriors out to find him and bring him back, as of yet, none have returned.� he said with barely restrained anger. �Perhaps we should leave him be, by looking for this rebel, we weaken our own house.� The whip lashed out again, grazing the tip of his angled nose.

�I did not ask for advice from you. I want him found and brought before me for trail. Malice never should have allowed him to live!� She said angrily. �You may go now.� she said, dismissing Solaufein. Bowing, the patron exited as quickly as he could.

Briza sat in her throne for a while in thought. After baiting Drizzt with the fact that his mentor, Zaknafein, had been killed, Malice had decided to leave him alive after all, as he was useful. As Drizzt had rebelled at this and escaped to the surface, Briza had demanded of her matron that Zak be killed, as Drizzt would no longer take him as bait. Malice had refused, thus, Briza had called upon Lloth to allow her to strike the old matron down and take her place as matron mother of House Do�Urden. Zak, had, in the meantime, escaped and was now apparently nowhere to be found.

This would be the last insult to Lloth and House Do�Urden, and as the eighth House was falling out of favor fast, the rebel weapon master had to be found and sacrificed before Lloth�s favor turned in the opposite way, spelling destruction for House Do�Urden and it�s inhabitants.

***
Chapter 1/ Part 2
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