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i_read_whatCan I just say that this is a weird fucking place to switch "books". I don't have anything against authors using "books" as a means to divide chapters in particular arcs. But this seems like a weird place of transition given that the next chapter starts with Drizzt still in the fucking giant's cave, but there we go.
On the plus side, we are told that Drizzt stops to grab another hunk of mutton from the table as he goes.
So anyway, Drizzt leads deeper into the cave. We're told that as he goes deeper into the hallway, he feels a pang of guilt for leaving Wulfgar behind..
So...why did you?
We get an explanation, sort of. "The drow had two weaknesses; foremost was the thrill of battle, but a close second the tingle of uncovering the booty of his vanquished foes. It wasn't the gold or gems that lured Drizzt; he didn't care for wealth and rarely even kept any of the treasures he had won. It was simply the thrill of viewing them for the first time, the excitement of sifting through them and, perhaps, discovering some incredible artifact that had been lost to knowledge in ages past, or maybe the spellbook of an ancient and powerful mage."
Well, I mean, of course Drizzt Do'Urden could never be GREEDY. Oh no. It's all about discovery. But I still don't understand why Drizzt couldn't invite Wulfgar along for this discovery. We haven't seen anything to indicate that Wulfgar is a particularly materialistic sort. Why not let him share in the discovery.
Clearly, Drizzt is a dick.
Anyway, he picks the lock, despite having never been formally trained in thievery, (Mr. Salvatore tells us this, I suppose, so we don't mistake Drizzt for a thief or anything.) He goes into the room and is disappointed that it's empty except for a large mirror in the center. Drizzt makes sure to dodge out of its path so he can investigate it. As he does, a pinkish mist appears in the glass, and eventually becomes a gaunt, hollowed visage.
The visage demands Biggrin, and when Drizzt wisely stays out of direct sight, it bitches about how it will punish the idiot that inadvertantly summoned it. Then the mirror flashes and returns to normal.
Well, I think Akar Kessell may be on the verge to learning what happened sooner than expected. On the other hand, he is an idiot.
So Drizzt goes back to Wulfgar, who is now sitting with Guenhwyvar, stroking her shoulders and neck. Because while Drizzt goes off to find non-existent treasure and hide it from his comrade, Wulfgar is actually having character development. Wulfgar even calls her "a fine ally" and "a true warrior!" Awwww.
As Wulfgar starts to stand, they're interrupted by an explosion! Fortunately, it's just Bruenor being dramatic. He is of course annoyed that Drizzt kept all the fun to himself, but he did, at least, get to have fun with the reinforcements. We're told that one orc is still alive, and Bruenor's pretty sure he can make him talk.
Drizzt disagrees. Orcs are generally not loyal types (racist much?), but when magic is involved, torture is less effective. He suggests going to Regis for help. Bruenor laments that "Torturin'd be more fun" but complies, because he too is curious, and worried, about what all these giants and orcs want.
Then time skips ahead a bit. Regis has been brought and is in a "private conversation" with the orc, meanwhile we're told that Bruenor is busying himself with a new recipe: "giant-brain stew" which is boiled right in a hollowed-out verbeeg skull. Drizzt and Wulfgar are appropriately horrified, isn't this arguably cannibalism, since giants are sentient??? But Bruenor's response is pretty spectacular. 'Use yer heads!' he had argued in response to Drizzt and Wulfgar's. expressions of horror and disgust. 'A barnyard goose tastes better 'an a wild one cause it don't use its muscles. The same oughta hold true for a giant's brains!'"
...fair? Maybe? Ew.
Anyway, Drizzt and Wulfgar now huddle in the farthest corner of the room like the manly heroes they are. They are apparently arguing the numbers of their kills. At one point Wulfgar insists that Drizzt has to share credit with Guen for one of them. (Aw. The Wulfgar-Guenhwyvar friendship is so charming!). Drizzt argues that Wulfgar only gets half credit for another, and they split the hall giant and Biggrin down the middle. They both total ten and one-half kills each.
"'And four for the cat,' added Wulfgar" Awwwww.
They cheerfully trash-talk each other a bit more, and Bruenor is proud of Wulfgar for keeping pace with a skilled veteran like Drizzt. And then Regis comes out with the bad news.
I feel like this might have been more suspenseful if we didn't have so many chapters watching Akar Kessell do jack shit, but there we go. Regis got all the requisite info and relates it to the others. Wulfgar is particularly embarrassed and angry to know that his people are fighting beside orcs.
Drizzt tells Bruenor and Regis to go to Bryn Shander to prepare, which makes Regis wince, as he doesn't believe the towns can stand against this threat. But he doesn't want to alarm his friends.
We're told it takes several days to round up the spokesmen. Bruenor and Regis were able to convince Cassius of the urgency, but the others were busy with their own shit. Only Cassius, Muldoon (new spokesman from Lonelywood who hero worships Regis_, Glensather from Easthaven, (which is characterized as the community "ever-willing to join in for the good of Ten Towns") and Agorwal of Termalaine are receptive.
Honestly, every time we see the Ten Towns bicker, I kind of think I wouldn't mind seeing them get squashed by giants. I felt that way about Kings Landing when I read A Song of Fire and Ice as I recall. I don't have a lot of patience for people who prioritize idiot politics over huge fucking catastrophes. But then I suppose it's true to life.
We're told Kemp, who still bears a grudge against Bruenor for not letting him kick the shit out of an unconscious Drizzt back when, is especially disruptive. He claims the entire meeting is just an attempt by Agorwal to get a better settlement in a dispute. This incites more rivalries among the others.
Cassius finally gets control of the room enough to turn the floor over to Regis. Unfortunately, Kemp doesn't want to take the word of a captured orc. Others dismiss it, saying a captured goblin will "wag its tongue in any direction it could think of to save its worthless head".
Regis tries his ruby pendant trick again, and as annoyed as I am by the idiot politicking, I am pretty gratified to see that Kemp can learn from the past. He'd apparently figured out something was odd about his capitulation last time. He calls Regis a trickster and refuses to look. (The accusation reaches the others, and even Agorwal, though he tries tactfully to hide it, refuses to look Regis straight in the eye.)
Even the dramatic reveal of a verbeeg head (Bruenor of course) and hearing of the sheer numbers of verbeeg killed doesn't sway Kemp.
'A passing band,' Kemp explained evenly, stubbornly. 'And all dead, so you have said. Why, then, does this become a matter for the council? If it is accolades you desire, mighty dwarf, then you shall have them!' His voice dripped with venom, and he watched Bruenor's reddening face with deep pleasure. 'Perhaps Cassius could make a speech in your honor before all of the people of Ten-Towns.'"
Okay, I kind of love Kemp. He's a great adversary for our heroes. I don't know what he has to gain from such willful blindness, but he definitely has style.
Bruenor storms away, and his parting rant about trying to save them does bring many of the spokesmen to realize that there may be a serious threat. Kemp still doesn't budge, and we're told he's second to Cassius in influence. (Bryn Shander tends to be neutral in the struggles, so many of the smaller settlements look to Targos for favor.)
Unfortunately, Cassius is unable to bring the council to decisive action. Regis is helpless, his credibility destroyed. Sorry dude, but it is kind of sketchy to rely on mind control in politics. Agorwal, Muldoon and Glensather are able to squeeze a concession to a general declaration of warning out, but that's pretty much it.
Okay, while I still think mid-cave was a really weird place for a big transition, the return to politics does suit a "Book Three" separation. I'm intrigued by Cassius, because I had him pegged as more of an antagonist early on. Kemp's got that covered. I am just as frustrated as I'm supposed to be. I hope he dies in a satisfactory manner.
On the plus side, we are told that Drizzt stops to grab another hunk of mutton from the table as he goes.
So anyway, Drizzt leads deeper into the cave. We're told that as he goes deeper into the hallway, he feels a pang of guilt for leaving Wulfgar behind..
So...why did you?
We get an explanation, sort of. "The drow had two weaknesses; foremost was the thrill of battle, but a close second the tingle of uncovering the booty of his vanquished foes. It wasn't the gold or gems that lured Drizzt; he didn't care for wealth and rarely even kept any of the treasures he had won. It was simply the thrill of viewing them for the first time, the excitement of sifting through them and, perhaps, discovering some incredible artifact that had been lost to knowledge in ages past, or maybe the spellbook of an ancient and powerful mage."
Well, I mean, of course Drizzt Do'Urden could never be GREEDY. Oh no. It's all about discovery. But I still don't understand why Drizzt couldn't invite Wulfgar along for this discovery. We haven't seen anything to indicate that Wulfgar is a particularly materialistic sort. Why not let him share in the discovery.
Clearly, Drizzt is a dick.
Anyway, he picks the lock, despite having never been formally trained in thievery, (Mr. Salvatore tells us this, I suppose, so we don't mistake Drizzt for a thief or anything.) He goes into the room and is disappointed that it's empty except for a large mirror in the center. Drizzt makes sure to dodge out of its path so he can investigate it. As he does, a pinkish mist appears in the glass, and eventually becomes a gaunt, hollowed visage.
The visage demands Biggrin, and when Drizzt wisely stays out of direct sight, it bitches about how it will punish the idiot that inadvertantly summoned it. Then the mirror flashes and returns to normal.
Well, I think Akar Kessell may be on the verge to learning what happened sooner than expected. On the other hand, he is an idiot.
So Drizzt goes back to Wulfgar, who is now sitting with Guenhwyvar, stroking her shoulders and neck. Because while Drizzt goes off to find non-existent treasure and hide it from his comrade, Wulfgar is actually having character development. Wulfgar even calls her "a fine ally" and "a true warrior!" Awwww.
As Wulfgar starts to stand, they're interrupted by an explosion! Fortunately, it's just Bruenor being dramatic. He is of course annoyed that Drizzt kept all the fun to himself, but he did, at least, get to have fun with the reinforcements. We're told that one orc is still alive, and Bruenor's pretty sure he can make him talk.
Drizzt disagrees. Orcs are generally not loyal types (racist much?), but when magic is involved, torture is less effective. He suggests going to Regis for help. Bruenor laments that "Torturin'd be more fun" but complies, because he too is curious, and worried, about what all these giants and orcs want.
Then time skips ahead a bit. Regis has been brought and is in a "private conversation" with the orc, meanwhile we're told that Bruenor is busying himself with a new recipe: "giant-brain stew" which is boiled right in a hollowed-out verbeeg skull. Drizzt and Wulfgar are appropriately horrified, isn't this arguably cannibalism, since giants are sentient??? But Bruenor's response is pretty spectacular. 'Use yer heads!' he had argued in response to Drizzt and Wulfgar's. expressions of horror and disgust. 'A barnyard goose tastes better 'an a wild one cause it don't use its muscles. The same oughta hold true for a giant's brains!'"
...fair? Maybe? Ew.
Anyway, Drizzt and Wulfgar now huddle in the farthest corner of the room like the manly heroes they are. They are apparently arguing the numbers of their kills. At one point Wulfgar insists that Drizzt has to share credit with Guen for one of them. (Aw. The Wulfgar-Guenhwyvar friendship is so charming!). Drizzt argues that Wulfgar only gets half credit for another, and they split the hall giant and Biggrin down the middle. They both total ten and one-half kills each.
"'And four for the cat,' added Wulfgar" Awwwww.
They cheerfully trash-talk each other a bit more, and Bruenor is proud of Wulfgar for keeping pace with a skilled veteran like Drizzt. And then Regis comes out with the bad news.
I feel like this might have been more suspenseful if we didn't have so many chapters watching Akar Kessell do jack shit, but there we go. Regis got all the requisite info and relates it to the others. Wulfgar is particularly embarrassed and angry to know that his people are fighting beside orcs.
Drizzt tells Bruenor and Regis to go to Bryn Shander to prepare, which makes Regis wince, as he doesn't believe the towns can stand against this threat. But he doesn't want to alarm his friends.
We're told it takes several days to round up the spokesmen. Bruenor and Regis were able to convince Cassius of the urgency, but the others were busy with their own shit. Only Cassius, Muldoon (new spokesman from Lonelywood who hero worships Regis_, Glensather from Easthaven, (which is characterized as the community "ever-willing to join in for the good of Ten Towns") and Agorwal of Termalaine are receptive.
Honestly, every time we see the Ten Towns bicker, I kind of think I wouldn't mind seeing them get squashed by giants. I felt that way about Kings Landing when I read A Song of Fire and Ice as I recall. I don't have a lot of patience for people who prioritize idiot politics over huge fucking catastrophes. But then I suppose it's true to life.
We're told Kemp, who still bears a grudge against Bruenor for not letting him kick the shit out of an unconscious Drizzt back when, is especially disruptive. He claims the entire meeting is just an attempt by Agorwal to get a better settlement in a dispute. This incites more rivalries among the others.
Cassius finally gets control of the room enough to turn the floor over to Regis. Unfortunately, Kemp doesn't want to take the word of a captured orc. Others dismiss it, saying a captured goblin will "wag its tongue in any direction it could think of to save its worthless head".
Regis tries his ruby pendant trick again, and as annoyed as I am by the idiot politicking, I am pretty gratified to see that Kemp can learn from the past. He'd apparently figured out something was odd about his capitulation last time. He calls Regis a trickster and refuses to look. (The accusation reaches the others, and even Agorwal, though he tries tactfully to hide it, refuses to look Regis straight in the eye.)
Even the dramatic reveal of a verbeeg head (Bruenor of course) and hearing of the sheer numbers of verbeeg killed doesn't sway Kemp.
'A passing band,' Kemp explained evenly, stubbornly. 'And all dead, so you have said. Why, then, does this become a matter for the council? If it is accolades you desire, mighty dwarf, then you shall have them!' His voice dripped with venom, and he watched Bruenor's reddening face with deep pleasure. 'Perhaps Cassius could make a speech in your honor before all of the people of Ten-Towns.'"
Okay, I kind of love Kemp. He's a great adversary for our heroes. I don't know what he has to gain from such willful blindness, but he definitely has style.
Bruenor storms away, and his parting rant about trying to save them does bring many of the spokesmen to realize that there may be a serious threat. Kemp still doesn't budge, and we're told he's second to Cassius in influence. (Bryn Shander tends to be neutral in the struggles, so many of the smaller settlements look to Targos for favor.)
Unfortunately, Cassius is unable to bring the council to decisive action. Regis is helpless, his credibility destroyed. Sorry dude, but it is kind of sketchy to rely on mind control in politics. Agorwal, Muldoon and Glensather are able to squeeze a concession to a general declaration of warning out, but that's pretty much it.
Okay, while I still think mid-cave was a really weird place for a big transition, the return to politics does suit a "Book Three" separation. I'm intrigued by Cassius, because I had him pegged as more of an antagonist early on. Kemp's got that covered. I am just as frustrated as I'm supposed to be. I hope he dies in a satisfactory manner.