That night I met with the Six. I told them about how I had poisoned the slaves and about the drow and the two nurses that were killed. That is where the truth ended. I explained I killed then weighted his body, dropping it in the lake to be devoured by a water spider. With all of the turmoil, the slaves would be blamed for the disappearance and the child's death could not be connected with the Six. The Six were pleased and extended me a bonus for the added discretion. They did not question my reasons for taking the child instead of killing it in the crib, this was fortunate for I had none to give. So it seemed I had convinced them but an intelligent drow knows never to underestimate the treachery of his kin. Even now another assassin could be sharpening a dagger, waiting for an opportunity to slay the slayer. But it shall not happen. There is a maze of tunnels that lie hidden beneath the passageways of the city. The tunnels were dug centuries ago by my own slaves... slaves whom I killed after the cave's completion in order to ensure its secrecy. It has not been found in all this time so I am confident that if they should come after me, it shall take weeks before they know I am gone. I will take this child to raise as my own in the caves outside the city or perhaps even on the surface, they shall not find me there! I will raise it outside of our society, away from all drow so he will never learn of our ways… of our hate. Now this foreign emotion called compassion has churned its thread around my heart my only hope is that the prophecy is right… and this child will find a gentler way of bringing bliss to the drow than I. **** Laying the quill inside the fold of his journal, he seals the portable inkwell and then secures both within his pack. The dark-elf slipped his arms through the shoulder straps and tugged at the adjustments to ensure the pack rode squarely on his back. Leaning over, he picked up the child and wrapped it in a blanket, placing it in another pack that would ride over his shoulder leaving his sword arm free. Leaving the candle to flicker he makes his way down one of the many corridors of his home, oblivious to the pair of shadows that silently followed. |
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