Crypt of the Shadowking

trapped. Ferret, don't let go!' she cried through the doorway.

'It's all right, Estah,' Ferret called to them. He still wore his grin, but there was sorrow in his dark eyes. 'It's just my greedy nature. You see, I want to keep all of the treasure in the tomb for myself. You understand, don't you?'

Tears streamed down Estah's cheeks. 'Yes, Ferret. I do understand.'

'Don't do this, you idiot thief!' Caledan shouted. He laid Mari down, ready to dash through the doorway, but he was too late.

“Tell Tyveris good-bye for me,' Ferret called out in his raspy voice.

The thief let go of the chain, and the onyx doors closed with a boom.

'Ferretl' Caledan screamed. He slammed into the doorway, trying to dig his fingers into the crack to pry open the ponderous slabs of stone. But it was no use.

'You cannot open those doors, Caldorien,' Morhion said solemnly.

Caledan slumped, bowing his head against the door. He knew the mage was right. The blasted mage was always right. Another tremor shook the stone around them. Dust rained down from the ceiling.

'We have to go, Caledan,' Estah said, her voice thick with grief. 'Mari needs you now. And Kellen, too.'

Slowly, Caledan stood up, nodding grimly. He took Mari's form in his arms once again and looked at Kellen, who stood bravely beside him.

'Let's get out of here,' he said.

Their flight upward through the dark, labyrinthine tunnels was like a nightmare, a nightmare Caledan thought would never end. His lungs burned as if they were on fire; his heart felt as if it was going to burst. But he did not slow his pace. He clutched Mari against his chest, his knuckles as white as her pale face. Estah, Kellen, and Morhion followed close behind.

Finally they reached the dungeons below the tower. They came to a large, circular chamber and saw the remnants of what looked to have been a ferocious battle. Corpses littered the slate floor, which was dark and slick with blood. Many were Zhentarim, but many looked to be cityfolk as well. Caledan could not be certain of which there were more. The air was hazy and stifling with the reek of torches. He dashed up the flight of stone steps, two at time.

After what seemed an eternity of climbing, Caledan burst outside into the blessedly clear night. Kellen, Estah, and Morhion were only paces behind him. Each of them was coated with dust, covered with bruises and scratches, but they were alive.

'Caledan!' a deep bellow rang out in the tower courtyard.

Caledan looked up, blinking the dust from his eyes. He saw that the gates in the tower's outer wall had been thrown open. Between them stood a massive, hulking figure with a broad, familiar face. Behind him was a throng of cheering cityfolk.

'At least the Zhentarim aren't here to greet us,' Caledan said, his voice weak. He coughed. Tyveris came striding toward them. 'The cityfolk have done it, Caledan!' the big Tabaxi announced joyously. 'Mari and Cormik's plan worked. The Zhentarim are gone. We've driven the curs from the city, those that we didn't lock up in the dungeon, that is!'

As soon as Tyveris reached them, his exuberant expression vanished. 'Let me,' he said softly, helping Caledan ease the Harper to the ground. The loremaster looked at Estah with deep concern.

'You must act swiftly,' Morhion said. 'The enchantment of the tomb will no longer preserve her spirit.'

'I'm not going to be able to do this alone, Caledan,' Estah said, drawing out her silver medallion inscribed with the sign of Eldath. The healer brushed Mari's dark hair from her face, laying an expert hand on her brow. The Harper's features looked deathly. 'I can make her body whole, but her spirit has already gone far away,' Estah explained. 'You must give her a reason to return to us, Caledan.'

'Me?' Caledan said, staring at the healer. 'But the Harper hates me now, Estah. You know that.'

The wise halfling woman scowled at Caledan. 'Must you always act like such a child, Caledan? We really don't have time for that now. Mari needs you.' She laid the medallion on Mari's chest.

Caledan swallowed hard. Tentatively he reached down and held Mari's hand. What could he say to her?

Suddenly he knew.

This time he did have the power to save the one that he loved. He would not let this second chance pass him by. Slowly he slipped the copper bracelet from his left wrist.

Farewell, Kera, my beloved, he whispered in his heart. He slipped the bracelet over Man's hand.

'I love you, Harper,' he said simply, knowing it was the truth. 'Come back to me.'

For a single, terrifying moment nothing happened. Then suddenly the medallion hummed with a faint, sweet sound, like the song of running water. But the sound faded, and still Mari did not move.

I have failed, Caledan almost whispered.

Then the Harper's fingers closed tightly about his hand, and he stared at her in wonderment. Man's eyes fluttered and flew open. She looked around in confusion, and her gaze locked on Caledan. A surprised smile touched her lips.

'So you didn't leave me after all, scoundrel,' she said, her voice husky.

'Ill never leave you, Mari.' He looked up at Kellen, and for the first time Caledan saw the boy smile. It was a hesitant, almost fragile expression. Still, it was a smile all the same. Caledan grinned in response. 'Never,' he said gruffly. He bent down and touched his lips to Man's.

Suddenly Mari began to laugh.

'What is it?' Caledan asked her, a bemused expression on his face.

She reached up a hand and brushed his cheek. 'You need a shave, scoundrel, that's what.'

Epilogue

It was the first day of summer, and all of the windows in the Sign of the Dreaming Dragon were thrown open to let in the fresh air and sunlight. It was still early in the afternoon-the usual crowd of customers would not start arriving until the shadows grew longer-and save for Caledan and Mari, the common room was empty.

Jolle was out behind the inn working on the garden, and Estah had taken Pog and Nog, along with Kellen, to the free market. In the last weeks merchant ships had streamed freely in and out of Iriaebor's port, and the merchant stalls in the market were filled with goods, both ordinary and exotic, from every corner of the Realms.

Caledan and Mari sat at one of the inn's freshly scrubbed wooden tables. Between them rested a small package which had been delivered earlier along with a sealed parchment scroll.

Mari deftly broke the wax seal and unrolled the scroll, watched her face carefully as she scanned the words on the page. Her hair glowed with a deep, rich hue in the sunlight streaming through the door, and blooms of color touched her cheeks. In the weeks since they had fled from the destruction of the crypt, she had already regained much of her strength.

'It's a missive from the Harpers,' Mari said, rolling up the parchment. 'From Belhuar Thantarth, the Master of Twilight Hall.'

'And?'

'And this is for you,' she said, pushing the package toward Caledan.

He looked at her questioningly. Her smile was mysterious. He sighed, swallowed hard, and undid the leather ties that bound the small parcel. He upended the pouch over his hand. A small, silvery object slipped out.

It was a pin, wrought in the shape of a crescent moon encircling a harp.

'Congratulations, Harper,' Mari said.

Caledan stared at the pin in amazement. At most he had expected a word of thanks from Thantarth for helping Mari complete her mission. But this he had most definitely not expected.

'Here. You wear it,' Mari said wryly, when it was clear all Caledan was going to do was stare at the pin. She carefully fastened the symbol of the Harpers to the shoulder of his new slate blue tunic. The pin glimmered brightly in the sunlight, a twin to the one that adorned Mari's forest green jacket Caledan