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[Keldril Kil'ana]

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They walked silently through the vast caverns of the underdark, father and son. Keldril let his mind wander slightly and his heart began to ache for home. Berating himself he shook his senses back to the present. This was no time to be thinking of his love or his family. Merci, Kelei and Korin would understand once all was made plain. There was a purpose to this journey and he meant to see it fulfilled.

"Remember Kaleb, battle is like a storm whether there be a single foe or many." He repeated for perhaps the thousandth time in their many months together. "You cannot hope to control a battle any more than you can dictate the course of a fierce rain or jagged lightening." His son nodded, soaking in every word. Gone was the boredom of youth, the impatience of one too eager to pay attention. Kaleb was a diligent pupil and saw his father as a wealth of knowledge to be exploited to every advantage. "What then, my son, must you do?" Kaleb looked up at him and smiled, "I must release myself to the flow of the battle and go where it dictates." Keldril nodded and smiled back at him. His answer was correct, but did he understand? Did he grasp the true meaning of his words?

The answer would come soon, Keldril knew. Unbeknownst to his son, they had spend the past few weeks venturing toward a hostile drow city. One not fond of uninvited guests. As if his thoughts were a summons, Keldril sensed the approach of a small group. He hoped they were drow and not more kobolds. He grew tired of watching Kaleb slaughter the wretched creatures and longed to see him engaged in true combat. He bent low and whispered to his son, "An enemy approaches, you know what to do."

Kaleb turned to his father to discuss a brief strategy and was slightly shocked to find that he had disappeared. He shrugged to himself and continued on. He soon came upon three drow males, scouts from what his father had told him. Their eyes widened in shock when they saw him slowly approaching and one called out in the harsh language of the underdark, "Who are you who approaches unbidden to our city?" Kaleb smiled and responded in relatively fluent drow, "I am a simple wanderer. I have no quarrel with you. But if my way is barred we shall have words stranger." The three sentinels laughed and each drew twin swords as they approached the young boy. Kaleb smirked as he stood calmly awaiting their move. "Say when." He said unexpectedly and the two nearest drow charged him. One swung both swords high toward Kaleb's head while his partner attempted to cut his legs from beneath him. At once the boy sprung into motion and dove into a forward roll, passing between the four swords. He drew his dagger and leafblade and drove them deep into his attacker's hamstrings as he rolled through. He came to his feet and drove his shoulder into the chest of the third startled scout. As the shocked male stumbled back, Kaleb drew his kryss and sliced the poor drow's neck wide open. The other two barely had time to recover from the initial retaliation when Kaleb was upon them. They battled furiously, marking the boy with superficial nicks, but since they were both hobbled and losing blood fast the boy soon stood over three corpses.

Keldril emerged from a side tunnel with a smile of delight on his face. "I believe, Kaleb, that you are ready to serve Umbra. The Matriarchs will be pleased. Though perhaps not at your absence. It is time for us to go home." Kaleb smiled at his father's words. He longed for home. For his mother's sweet embrace...killing always made him think of her.