[Attalus]

LOL, I got so inspired that I wrote some more:

"No!" the princess cried, "we must get back and rescue my escort. They fought to get me away, and some of them might yet live."
Paoli broke in, "Yer pardon, yer highness, but if there's a whole drow war patrol up there, we three aren't enough to defeat it. Listen to the lad, he's talking sense fer once. My cabin is just a short spell form here, and we can let them know in Baldur's Gate. Come on." He picked up the wolf pelt and loped through the forest, absolutely sure of where he was.
Novenna, for her part, put her fingers to her lips as they ran and whistled. Soon, the white elven horse joined them, and she jumped lightly onto its back. "Come now, Veldren, ride with me, and I shall show you Stagleaper's paces."
He jumped up behind her, and, when they reached the old man's cottage, they saw him coming out with a horn made of an auroch's antler. He put it to his lips and began to sound it. It stirred Veldren's blood as it bugled, "Awake, awake, the enemy is upon us."
"Come on, Princess Novenna," he urged, "the road is before us and my horse is there," he pointed to a bay that was plunging and whinneying at the horn call. Veldren jumped down and deftly leapt upon his saddle, freeing the reins with one hand. He then dug his heels in the horse's sides and galloped off for the gate with Novenna on Stagleaper close behind.
They thundered through the gate as the militia were gathering in response to Paoli's alarm. Veldren looked about, not answering their anxious questions until he saw his father, as he knew that he would, the huge figure standing above the crowd about him and the magical armor gleaming. "Father, Father, here I am," he cried as he dismounted by his sire.
Attlus looked relieved to see his wayward offspring and hugged him briefly. "Veldren," he boomed, "I am glad to see you. Do you know aught of this alarm? And, who is this with you?" he added, catching sight of Novenna.
"First things first, Father," Veldren replied. The drow are about, armed and in strength. I killed one of them. This is Princess Novenna, whose party they attacked. That one of them had captured her, and I rescued her," he finished proudly.
Before Attalus could reply to this news, Veldren found himself crushed fiercely in another embrace. "Veldren," Viconia shouted, "you are alive and safe, thank Helm. And this is princess whom?" She surveyed Novenna cooly. She stepped forward and bowed gracefully.
"If you are Veldren's mother, you must be the famous Viconia," she answered gravely. "I wish to thank you for the deeds of your son, who saved me from a ghastly death on Lloth's altar. This, I can never repay, but be assured I am grateful. I am Novenna, daughter of Fangost, King in the elven lands. I am his emissary, and was to meet you tomorrow with Lord Attalus, but, now, my escorts are slaughtered, I fear, by the wild drow. Lord Attalus," she turned to him, "it was on the main highway. Can we not ride and see to their poor bodies, and, perhaps avenge them?"
Attalus was grim. "Ride we shall, Princess. I will not have these things happening around my city. Come." They mounted, along with an escort of militia, and rode swiftly back to the ill fated spot on the highway.
As they neared the place, they were attacked by the remaining drow, led by Shal'drissa, who had been hunting for the vanished princess. However, it was not a small party that they attacked this time, but a strong group of armored men, led by their fell captain. At the first sound of a Drow battlecry, Carsomyr came out, shining with holiness, and took the head from the first drow that he came to. Shal'drissa struck at him with her whip and tried to use magic, but against the bearer of the great blade, it was no use. An overhead chop clove both helmet and head, and her blood and brains stained the road. A great cry came from the other drow and they melted away into the forest, leaving behind a fair amount of dead.

[ 10-25-2002, 08:09 PM: Message edited by: Attalus ]