Drannon smiles, something he hadnt done in a while. He stood up and looked to his friend Arienne. "Sure. Sounds like a good idea. After all, I was the one to break Spyke for riders eh? You go ahead and inform the other mages, Spyke and I will be back later this evening. Dont worry, we'll find that bastard." ...Drannon hugs her back again before she leaves. "Thanks again Arienne, I owe you one."

Drannon walks over to Pheryl and checks on her once more before walking upstairs to the roof. He looked around a little as he went, remembering the days in Sithicus where they found Spyke and raised him. Having lived here before, Drannon knew where Spykes nest was.... and approached cautiously.

 

She nodded, a faint shimmer of sadness in her eyes. "Yes, and Drannon," she looked at him seriously. "Don't face him alone again. Promise me if you find him, you will come find me before facing him." She waited until she had extracted that one promise from him, then Arienne left the tower, telling Viewsk to be on extra alert, since there were drow elves in the area. The beholder grinned as always and bobbed his eyestalks in understanding. "Viewsk no let any bad ones near or in tooooooower," he growled. Satisfied that her tower would be guarded by the beholder and the gargoyles up top, Arienne made her way to the dias, to meet with the other members of the Trinity.

Drannon stopped at the base of the steps leading up, turning to smile at Arienne... "I wont, I promise. I honestly dont think I could beat him alone. He was very powerful. You be careful too.".. that said Drannon continues upstairs, headed for the roof... and Spyke.

 

Drannon returns later that evening, after a long day of scouting the woods, and gaining information from the locals. He lands Spyke softly on the roof, and dismounts. After tending to Spyke, Drannon sets the sadle near the ladder leading down into the tower, and descends. Once inside Drannon immediatly goes downstairs, knowing the safepath to take through Ariennes room. He also knows where she keeps her herbs and medical supplies, which he grabs up a few on his way to the stairs.

Drannon soon reaches Pheryls side, where she lays comfortably sleeping in the mid section of Ariennes tower. Like dragons, Pheryl sleeps comfortably on a bed of coins. Mostly silver and copper, but a large amount for her to curl up in. Drannon smiles as he kneels down to her side. He reaches out and strokes her neck soothingly... "Rest ole girl. I'll find that bastard. Then he'll pay."

Drannon begins to change Pheryls wraps, and administer more medications to her. He looks over his shoulder to see a worried looking Viewsk hovering a few feet away. Drannon smiles and looks to the beholder... "Pheryl will be fine Viewsk. She just needs a lot of rest right now." Viewsk grinns to Drannon... "She no die? Viewsk happy."

Drannon chuckles, nodding to the concerned beholder and then goes back to tending to Pheryl. After bringing her fresh food and water, Drannon goes downstairs and sits by the fireplace. Kicking his feet up on the long dining table, he drinks some water and has some dried meats and fruits for dinner. He stares into the fireplace, thinking of the many areas he will be covering on tonights scout. Without Spyke, he can search the brush more thoroughly. But first he'll wait till Arienne comes back with word from the wizards, and she might want to go. He knows Arienne to be a powerful wizard, she could be of assistance if he came across the drow again. Plus she might find some of the local rabble interesting.

 

 

Arienne returned to the tower shortly after Drannon, and he could tell as soon as she strode in the front doors that something was afoot. Her crystal blue eyes were dark and stormy, and her normally finely chiseled elven features held a scowl. She found Drannon and before he could utter a word, she spoke in a hurried voice full of concern. "We have to go to the Arenas at once." She began to walk towards the stairs and looked back at him. "C'mon, I'll explain as I gather some things we might need," she said, continuing upstairs to her lab and bedroom. As she got there, she sighed and shook her head.  "Your prowess with your blades will be much appreciated, my friend." She began to gather things from various places in the room, putting them all into her cloak's many, hidden pockets. She stopped and turned again to Drannon with a small, worried smile. "I'm sorry, Drannon. How is Pheral? And how are you?" she asked, truly interested.

 

"I will explain what we're doing on the ride there. Spyke will just have to carry us both, though he may balk a bit at it. We have no time, let's go and you can fill me in on what you have found on the way." The silver-haired mage called down the stairs to Viewsk. "Viewsk! Drannon and I are going to the Arenas. I'm putting the tower on "Lock-Down" and want you to guard it on high alert! Nothing and no one but myself and Drannon gets in, understood?!" The beholder floated into view at the second level of the tower steps and nodded his eyestalks, his maw grinding curiously. Satisfied that Viewsk would guard the inside of the tower, Arienne looked at Drannon. "Gather your scimitars and anything else you might need for a confrontation, although, Mystra willing, it won't come to that. I'll meet you up top."

 

She then climbed the ladder to the tower's roof, throwing open the trap door up there and waiting for the ranger to join her. When he did, a few minutes later, Arienne closed the trap door and wizard locked it. She also strode to one of the four stone gargoyles sitting perched at the northernmost point, overlooking the fields in the direction of the sparring area. She spoke a low word and activated the opulescent gem in its hand. Immediately it began to glow a deep crimson, and the four gargoyles turned their heads to regard their Mistress. She spoke with them mentally and all four sets of eyes glowed red beneath their adamantite helms. They again assumed their watchful stances and Arienne mounted Spyke with a softly murmured couple of words, waiting as Drannon mounted behind her. Then she spurred the large, black wyvern into flight as they headed for the Arenas......

Drannon sighed relief when Arienne arrived, he was about to spill the information he'd gathered on his initial search, when she started talking of something important at the Arenas. "Arenas?" He followed her around as she gathered up her magic items, and other arcane things he'd rather not know about. She seemed truely in a rush, so Drannon took this as a sign to get ready. As Arienne continued to explain to him about some kinda confrontation at the Arenas, Drannon gathered his leather armor, which still needed repair, and his scimitars. He buckled everything on, and was soon outfitted again in his Rangers garb. He just nodded as he followed Arienne to the roof where they mounted Spyke, and flew off into the night sky. It was there that he was finally able to tell Arienne about the information he'd gathered. The missing farm hand story, about the young men exploding into acid in the Twisted Root. Jarlosh even showed Drannon the basement where there were barrels still melted. Jarlosh had fixed the floor already.

Then he tells her of the missing merchant, who left a wagon full of his wares, unguarded. The oxen tied to it looked exhausted, like they had been there for a couple days. "Somethin fishy is goin on Arienne. That drow bastard is here, I just know it."

 

 

Spyke landed on top of Ariennes tower, carrying both her and Drannon back from the sparring fields. Drannon first helped Arienne down, then unsaddled Spyke so he would be more comfortable. He then went down to where he had left Pheryl. She was sleeping soundly, and it looked as if she had eaten and drank some water. Drannon went to tend to her bandages, and apply new medication. Pheryl suddenly flinched, and jumped up. Her tail swung around fast, and slammed Drannon in the chest. Drannon went flying across the room to crash into some wooden crates on the other side. He crawled out of the rubble groaning and holding his chest. Looking up he saw Pheryl shakily standing on her bed of coins, hissing and looking around. He could see she was barely able to stand, and in a state of confusion. Her thin frame was shaking, and her swollen eyes wouldnt allow clear vision. Drannon slowly rose still rubbing his chest looking apon his withered friend... a tear falling from his cheak. He spoke in a calm voice, and slowly approached her. "Pheryl? Its me. Drannon." He crouched low, trying not to spook her and summoning his best Ranger skills to handle this situation. He looked back as Arienne came running down the steps to investigate the crash. He held out his hand to her.. "Stay back Arienne! I'll handle this."

Pheryl growled deeply looking Drannons direction, her legs shaking benieth her.

 

 Arienne's blue eyes were wide with alarm as she came running into the room. "Drannon! Pheryl! Are you alri..." the words died in her throat as she saw Pheryl's very odd condition. Despite Drannon's warning to stay back, she approached cautiously, her face a mask of worry. "Drannon? What's the matter with her? Is it the poison? I've never seen a poison cause delirium like this....what can I do to help?" The elven mage shifted nervously from foot to foot, her mind racing to come up with something that might help.

Drannon crept up to Pheryl slowly, using calming cooing sounds as he approached. Pheryl hissed, and stumbled, barely able to stand. She couldnt see anything due to her swollen eyes, but her nose and ears worked very well. Drannon got up next to her, and reached out calmly, still cooing to her in a calming tone. Pheryl suddenly lashed out, and clamped down on Drannons shoulder. Drannon bit his lip from the pain, but managed to start singing an old lulliby, in a strange dialect. Blood ran down his back as Pheryl crunched down harder, and grabbing Drannon with her forpaws. The Ranger still kept up the calm singing, and stroking her neck. He seemed to be gritting his teeth from the pain, but was able to still sing the strange lulliby.

Then she relaxed, the music Drannon was singing sparked a hint of recognition in her mind. She slowly slumped back down into the pile of coins, and released her hold on Drannon. The Ranger just helped her back into her bed, and continued to sing to her. Finally she laid her head in his lap, and looked up to Drannon... "D..dr...a.non." Drannon cradled her reptilian head in his arms, and nodded... "Yes Pheryl, its me. Your safe. Just sleep." He continued to sing the song softly as Pheryl wrapped her wings and tail around her human guardian, and fell asleep.

 

 Arienne had started to rush forward as the scalamagdrion clamped down on Drannon, ready to knock the dragon-kin on the snout with her staff to make her let go, but her ranger friend managed to sing and calm Pheryl down. Blue eyes full of concern, the elven mage rushed back upstairs to her lab and quickly opened her potion box, pulling out four vials. She returned moments later and handed the vials to Drannon. One was a bright, glowing pink. The others swirled with a metallic and pearly brown. "You know what the pink one does, and you ought to know about the brown ones, too, after being around me this long," she told him in a hushed voice. "Give two of the Neutralize Poisons to Pheryl and drink the other one yourself. If her bite is full of the poison inside her, then you don’t want to become infected. Drink the brown one first, then the potion of extra healing." The silver-haired mage waited until Drannon had followed her instructions and glanced worriedly at the now sleeping scalamagdrion. "In awhile, if she’s strong enough, I’ll take a sample of her blood, and see if we can’t identify what or where the toxins stem from. Perhaps I’ll be able to help. Let’s hope so, Drannon. For both your sakes."

Drannon looks up to Arienne and nods. Hes been around her long enough to recognise the different potions she made here in her tower. Some were still strange to him, but the more common ones were easy to identify. He smiled looking back up to Arienne... "Shes not poisoned Arienne, she is just sick and weak from exposure. She must have been carrying my body back here for days. Without me to guide her, she probably got lost. Its a miracle she made it back here at all. Stricken with grief and shock, it has taken its toll on her. She is slowly recovering, but still needs rest. She must still be in shock, thats why she attacked me. She didnt recognise me, only her primitive survival instincts were awake..." Drannon reaches down to stroke her neck. "She was not aware of what she was doing." He looks back up to Arienne.. "But thanks for the potion of healing. I'll use it... that bite of hers stings a little." Drannon chuckles quietly, and drinks the pink potion.

 

 The frown that marred her fair face didn't disappear at Drannon's rational words. "I'd like to take a blood sample later anyway," she told him. "Just to be sure." Taking the three brownish potions back, she held them in her hands and crossed her arms over her chest, watching Pheryl with a mixture of worry and fondness. Then she turned her concerned gaze back to Drannon, whom she considered to be one of her very best friends. What is it with you and human men, Arie? her mind asked. To which the mythril haired mage had no answer. She stubbornly pushed the thought aside and gave him a small smile. "Well, I'll leave you two to sleep for now. If you get hungry later, there's left over chicken downstairs. I'll be up in the lab for awhile. I've got a batch of Plant Growth potions on the bubbler." With that, Arienne turned and climbed the stairs to the third level of the Tower, taking the Neutralize Poison vials with her to replace in her stock.

Drannon nods to Arienne before she leaves back to her lab.. "As you wish Arienne. Just make sure Im here before you do it, she may lash out again." Drannon smiles up to his elven friend... "And... thank you Arienne. You have done so much for Pheryl and I... I ... I dont know how I could ever repay you. If there is anything at all I can do for you, just name it and consider it done." Drannon smiles up to her with a teary eye, and a look of complete honesty.

 

 She paused on the stairs leading up and flashed a soft smile of affection towards Drannon. "We've been friends far too long for you to speak of repaying me, Drannon. Your friendship is quite payment enough. That's what friends do. We help each other. No need to thank me, alright? But if it makes you feel better, you're welcome." She gave him a wink and proceeded up the stone staircase to her lab.

Drannon smiled back to Arienne and nodded, knowing indeed he would be here for her when she needed him. He snuggled up with Pheryl and fell asleep there in her pile of coins with his scalamagdrion friend, as he would do for the next few days.

Drannon and Arienne cared for Pheryl for the next week, tending to her bandages and the fever she had. With Ariennes medicinal herbs and potions, the fever was easily broken, and Pheryl was back to her old self by the end of the week. Drannon had stayed by her side the entire time of her recouperation, and came to an understanding himself.

This had all started when Drannon was leaving Elmshade for the familiar depths of the Silvan forest again. Feeling like the bond of friendship between himself and Arienne had faded. He learned he was wrong in that assumption, for their friendship was still quite strong and Arienne still cared for the Ranger and Pheryl. Drannon swore he would not make that mistake again, and would stay here in Elmshade to assist Arienne with whatever she may need. He could stay here in Starsinger tower as he did before on Glimmer Lake, where he could serve the forest and his mage friend for as long as he was needed.

Drannon would still find himself in the mornings atop Ariennes tower, looking out into the Elmshade woods. He knew that drow was still here somewhere, and once he knew the area as well as the rest of the Silvan forest... there would be no where for him to hide from Drannons twin scimitars. They would meet again, and this time he would be ready. Drannon would make it a habbit to venture into the woods on a daily basis to hunt.... for drow.