War 


"Five hours!" 
	Sutekh's movement was a blur.  There was a brief flash of 
light as his enchanted dagger was drawn, then its light was quenched 
as he spun and hurled the blade across the room, sticking it firmly
in the high back of a chair.  
	"Five damn hours!" 
	Caleb had never before seen Sutekh so enraged.  Red eyes 
blazed forth in contrast to ebony skin, his body quivering with rage.  
Caleb found it easy to believe the stories about the dark elves being 
a demonic race.  
	Sutekh was having difficulty restraining the yell on his 
tongue.  Finally he sank to his knees and covered his face with his 
hands, his body still tense and trembling.  

Despite what Sutekh believed, the Free Lords were preparing for war, 
although somewhat slowly.  Eight years after Sutekh had discovered 
Ecthalion's plan to steal a fleet, the Free Lords held a meeting of 
their allies.  At this council a champion was chosen, a holy warrior 
selected to bear the sword that would oppose the Pomarj.  This 
warrior, Boyd, was also given a new name; Dantecthalion.  
	Sutekh had attended the meeting with Bernaldo.  Also in 
attendance were some of the drow's old companions, including Eldrad 
Despana.  Eldrad had been Sutekh's partner in escaping from the Vault, 
but they had not parted friends.  Sutekh had previously warned Eldrad 
that at their next meeting one of them would die; however, 
circumstances did not permit this.  Eldrad had no desire to fight 
Sutekh, and Sutekh would not fight one who was aiding the Free Lords
as much as Eldrad.  After all, Eldrad was an enemy of Ecthalion, too.  
	"War does not recognize personal privilege," was Sutekh's only 
comment at their meeting.  
	Eldrad's attendance was the reason Sutekh left before 
Bernaldo.  Five hours after Sutekh's ship had sailed it was discovered 
that an army of humanoids was marching on the Free Lords' council.  
Three hours later battle was joined.  The Free Lords were victorious, 
but Boyd Dantecthalion was slain and his sword lost.  Also, the fleet 
of the Free Lords had been taken by Ecthalion's forces.  Wave after 
wave of dragonels bearing riders had swept over the docks' defenders, 
harassing them while hundreds of small boats filled with men appeared 
on the horizon and captured the fleet.  Now the fleet had disappeared 
and even magical scrying could not find it.  

Sutekh learned nothing of the battle until he reached Autumnwell.  
That Caleb had been the one to tell Sutekh did not make it any easier 
on him.  
	"Why are you disturbing the peace of Autumnwell?" Caleb 
finally demanded.  
	"Caleb, this is not the time..."  Sutekh spoke in a low tone, 
his jaw clenched.  
	"Answer me!" 
	"Ecthalion struck his first open blow of the war and I left 
five hours before it happened."  
	"And what would you have done if you were there?" 
	Sutekh, still on his knees, stared straight ahead, unseeing; 
his pupils wide.  A grim smile touched his lips.  "I would have 
fought."  
	"I was not aware that your blade alone could have so changed 
the outcome of the battle."  
	Sutekh shook his head.  "I would not have fought the hordes.  
I would have taken to the air and faced the dragonels."  
	"Then you must be a great warrior, indeed," patronized Caleb, 
"To face scores of such beast alone."  
	Sutekh's eyes narrowed.  "Caleb, you do not understand how I 
fight.  I do not destroy the enemy.  I distract him and divide his 
forces so that others may destroy them."  
	"Your arrogance is great, drow, to think that you alone could 
have done so much."  
	"I may not have changed the outcome, but the dragonel riders 
would have remembered me," Sutekh finished vehemently.  
	"You mean you would have died," Caleb replied flatly.  "There 
are better uses for you clandestine skills.  Your pride drives you to 
glory, but glory is not for thieves and spies.  Your work must be done 
anonymously or those you serve will suffer for it.  Kill your pride, 
Sutekh, before it kills you, or worse, your master."  
	Sutekh closed his eyes and sighed.  "Gods, I hate it when you 
are right."  
	Caleb smiled at Sutekh's back.  "Now, get up.  There are still 
several cords of wood to be split.  You seem to have a need for 
violence and I'm sure the workers would appreciate the help.  Oh, by 
the way, Sir Bravos will not be coming back until spring.  They still 
have need of his council."  
	Caleb was wise in not telling Sutekh that his master was too 
sick to make the journey.  


						Jeff Stehman