"We'll not go to Caer MacDonald as thieves, Oliver," Luthien said dryly, something the halfling obviously already knew. The halfling shrugged; Katerin and Luthien looked to each other and smiled knowingly, then urged their horses ahead once more.

"Why would we need to?" Oliver asked. "Of course, we shall live in the palace, surrounded by all pleasures, food and pretty ladies! Of course I was only joking; why would I want to steal with so much given to me?"

Luthien's next question stopped his companions short again.

"Then what shall we do?" the young Bedwyr asked.

"What must we do?" Oliver asked, not understanding.

"Are we two to build a home and raise our children?" Luthien asked Katerin, and the woman's stunned expression showed that she hadn't given that possibility any more thought than had Luthien. "Are we all to serve Brind'Amour, then," Luthien went on, "carrying his endless parchments from room to room?"

Oliver shook his head, still not catching on.

Katerin had it clear, though, and in truth, Luthien had brought up something that the young woman hadn't really considered. "What are we to do?" she asked, more to Luthien than to Oliver.

The young Bedwyr regarded her, his face skeptical as he considered that the reality of their apparent future could not match the intensity of their recent past.

"What is there for us in Caer MacDonald?" the woman asked.

"Caer MacDonald is the seat of Eriador, where our friend is king," Luthien answered, but his statement of the obvious did little to answer the woman's question.

Katerin nodded her agreement, but motioned for Luthien to continue, to explain exactly what that might mean.

"There is important . . ." the young Bedwyr started. "We will be needed . . . Brind'Amour will need emissaries," he finally decided, "to go to Gybi, to Eradoch, to Dun Caryth, and Port Charley. He will need riders to take his edicts to Bedwydrin. He will need-"

"So?" Katerin's simple question caught Oliver off his guard, and defeated Luthien's mounting duty-bound speech before it could gain any momentum-not that the young Bedwyr was trying to instill any momentum into it!

"The war is over," Katerin said plainly.

Oliver groaned, finally catching on to the course the two were walking. He started to protest, to remind them of the luxuries awaiting them, the accolades, the pretty ladies, but in truth, Oliver found that he was out of arguments, for in his heart he agreed-though the halfling part of him that preferred comfort above all else screamed a thousand thousand protests at his sensibilities. The war was over, the threat of Greensparrow ended forever. And the threat of the cyclopians had been ended as well, at least for the foreseeable future. The three kingdoms of Avonsea's largest island were at peace, a solid alliance, and any problems that might now arise would surely seem petty things when measured against the great struggle that had just been waged and won.

That was why Luthien had refused the crown of Eriador when his name had been mentioned as possible king soon after the northern kingdom had gained its independence from Greensparrow's Avon. Oliver studied his young friend, nodding as it all came clear. That was why Luthien had deferred to Ethan for the high position that Brind'Amour had offered. That was, in truth, why Luthien and Katerin had been so agreeable to the idea that they should linger in Carlisle. They had spent months waging a just war, their veins coursing with adrenaline. They were young and full of excitement and adventure; what did Caer MacDonald really have to offer to them?

"I spent many hours with Duke McLenny . . . King McLenny, on board his flagship as we sailed along Avon's western and southern coasts," Katerin said sometime later, the trio moving again, but more slowly now. "He spoke to me at length about Baranduine, wild and untamed."

Luthien looked at her, a mischievous smile crossing his face.

Oliver groaned.

"Untamed," Katerin reiterated, "and in need of a few good heroes."

"I do like the way this woman thinks," Luthien remarked, promptly turning Riverdancer to the west.

Oliver groaned again. On many levels, he wanted to convince Luthien and Katerin to accept the life of luxury, wanted them to settle down with their baby-types, while he got fat and comfortable in Brind'Amour's palace. On one level, though, Oliver not only understood, but, despite himself, agreed with the turn in direction. Wild Baranduine, rugged and unlawful, a place where a highwayhalfling might find a bit of sport and a bit of treasure. Suddenly Oliver recalled the carefree days he and Luthien had spent when first they had met, riding the breadth of Eriador at the expense of merchants along the road. Now the halfling envisioned a life on the road once more, with Luthien and that marvelous cape, and with Katerin, as capable a companion as any highwayhalfling could ever want, beside him. His vision grew into a full-blown daydream as they moved along, becoming vivid and thoroughly enjoyable-until the halfling saw an error in the image.

"Ah, my dear Siobhan," Oliver lamented aloud, for in his fantasy, the group riding about Baranduine's thick green hillocks was four, and not three. "If only you were here."

Luthien and Katerin regarded the halfling, sharing his sorrow. How much more complete they, too, would feel if the beautiful half-elf was riding alongside!

"A couple of couples we would then be!" Oliver proclaimed, his tone brightening, his dimples bursting forth as that cheery grin widened on his cherubic face. "We could call ourselves the two-two's, and let the fat merchant-types beware!"

Luthien and Katerin just laughed helplessly, a mirth tainted by the scars of a war that would never fully heal.

ABOUT THE A AUTHOR.

R. A. SALVATORE is the bestselling author of more than forty novels, which have sold more than 15 million copies. His works include The Icewind Dale Trilogy, The Dark Elf Trilogy, and The Cleric Quintet, and his most recent series is The Hunter's Blade Trilogy. Now he is making the jump to graphic novels, with many of his works being adapted to that format. is the bestselling author of more than forty novels, which have sold more than 15 million copies. His works include The Icewind Dale Trilogy, The Dark Elf Trilogy, and The Cleric Quintet, and his most recent series is The Hunter's Blade Trilogy. Now he is making the jump to graphic novels, with many of his works being adapted to that format.

He lives in Massachusetts with his wife and family.

STRAIGHT FROM THE A AUTHOR.

R. A. Salvatore Answers Questions from Readers About The Crimson Shadow The Crimson Shadow Q: Where do you get your inspiration for your characters, especially Bruenor, Drizzt, Catti-brie, and Regis? And where do you get your inspiration for the stories in general? Where do you get your inspiration for your characters, especially Bruenor, Drizzt, Catti-brie, and Regis? And where do you get your inspiration for the stories in general?

-Karen S., Lexington, SC R. A. Salvatore: I think every writer will tell you pretty much the same thing: Inspiration comes from all around us. Every book I read, or movie I see, or landscape I discover, or song I hear makes an impression on me. As does every person I meet. Often I suspect that being a writer is a matter of unconsciously taking all of this information, breaking it apart, spinning all the bits into a different collage, and regurgitating them in different combinations. There are no specific people I meet who become "characters" in my books, but the characters in my books carry traits of many people I've met. For example, I've often said that Drizzt is who I wish I had the courage to be. I think every writer will tell you pretty much the same thing: Inspiration comes from all around us. Every book I read, or movie I see, or landscape I discover, or song I hear makes an impression on me. As does every person I meet. Often I suspect that being a writer is a matter of unconsciously taking all of this information, breaking it apart, spinning all the bits into a different collage, and regurgitating them in different combinations. There are no specific people I meet who become "characters" in my books, but the characters in my books carry traits of many people I've met. For example, I've often said that Drizzt is who I wish I had the courage to be.

The same is true of the stories I craft. They come from deep inside, from the reams of information that have settled in that mass of gray matter sitting atop my shoulders, in my gut and in my heart. Everybody is a storyteller, of course. Being a working professional writer may be nothing more than having an instinctive way of telling your stories which appeals to enough people to keep publishers interested in publishing more.

Q: Does the Crimson Shadow series have any ties into the Forgotten Realms? If so, where does it fit in? Does the Crimson Shadow series have any ties into the Forgotten Realms? If so, where does it fit in?

-Kris L., Dallas, TX RAS: No, the Crimson Shadow takes place in a world I created. One that more closely resembles our own world, I might add. It's no accident that the isles look like Britain, for example. No, the Crimson Shadow takes place in a world I created. One that more closely resembles our own world, I might add. It's no accident that the isles look like Britain, for example.

The Forgotten Realms book series was created by Ed Greenwood. Although dozens of authors and game designers have put their stamp on the place, in my mind it will ever be Ed's amazing world. I salute him and love him dearly and will be forever grateful that he allowed me to push the dirt around in his sandbox. The only work I've done that is in any way connected to the Forgotten Realms are my Forgotten Realms novels (twenty-three and counting). That's the way it has to be, both legally and morally. book series was created by Ed Greenwood. Although dozens of authors and game designers have put their stamp on the place, in my mind it will ever be Ed's amazing world. I salute him and love him dearly and will be forever grateful that he allowed me to push the dirt around in his sandbox. The only work I've done that is in any way connected to the Forgotten Realms are my Forgotten Realms novels (twenty-three and counting). That's the way it has to be, both legally and morally.

Q: Do you think that writing is a God-given talent, or do you think that anyone can do it if they have enough determination? Do you think that writing is a God-given talent, or do you think that anyone can do it if they have enough determination?

-Luke G., Bismarck, ND RAS: I think it's a little of both. Anyone can become well versed in things grammatical. Anyone can learn the "rules" of a language. It occurs to me that some people learn them too well, and lose track of the notion that grammar is something different. It's not a set of rules; it's a set of tools. I think it's a little of both. Anyone can become well versed in things grammatical. Anyone can learn the "rules" of a language. It occurs to me that some people learn them too well, and lose track of the notion that grammar is something different. It's not a set of rules; it's a set of tools.

Also, as I said before, everyone is a storyteller. Every person has an "idea" for a great book. If you connect this with my previous paragraph, it seems apparent that "anyone can do it," right?

Maybe, but there's a third piece of the puzzle. We all have different ways of telling our stories, different inner voices. Being a writer means finding that voice, and being a successful writer, I believe, means having an instinctual method of telling a story that pleases many people. You won't please everyone, of course. No writer can hope for that. But maybe, just maybe, you'll please enough to make it worthwhile for you and for the publishers to print it and put it on the shelves.

That's all regarding "publishing" and not "writing," and believe me when I tell you that there's a huge gulf between the two concepts. So yes, anyone can become a writer, but not everyone can get published. And by the way, that's not always a measure of talent. Timing and luck are huge components!

Q: What sort of role do you think music plays in the creative process of writing a book? What sort of role do you think music plays in the creative process of writing a book?

-Wesley J. K., Wellesley, Ontario, Canada RAS: That would depend on the author. For me, it plays a huge role. I wrote my first book, That would depend on the author. For me, it plays a huge role. I wrote my first book, Echoes of the Fourth Magic Echoes of the Fourth Magic, way back in 19821983, longhand, by candlelight, to Fleetwood Mac's amazing Tusk Tusk album. That music acted as a conduit to my writing "trance." When Stevie Nicks sang of the sisters of the moon, I envisioned the witch Brielle dancing on a moonlit field. I even named Brielle's daughter Rhiannon, with ties to the Welsh witch that Ms. Nicks made famous in the late '70s. album. That music acted as a conduit to my writing "trance." When Stevie Nicks sang of the sisters of the moon, I envisioned the witch Brielle dancing on a moonlit field. I even named Brielle's daughter Rhiannon, with ties to the Welsh witch that Ms. Nicks made famous in the late '70s.

I choose my mood music carefully now. The theme from World of Warcraft makes for great scene-setting for large-scale battles, I find, and no one sets a soft wintery mood better than George Winston.

And I've still got my Fleetwood Mac, of course-only on CD and not LP.

Q: Is the Oliver deBurrows character really based on your dog? Is the Oliver deBurrows character really based on your dog?

-Neil R., King George, VA RAS: You've got that backwards. My oldest dog, Oliver, is three years old. When we got him and began our name search, my wife decided that we should name him after one of the lesser known characters in my books, since he was, in effect, our sidekick. Well, since he's a Japanese Chin, and all of ten pounds, we considered Oliver, and as his rather strange personality became apparent, the name stuck. You've got that backwards. My oldest dog, Oliver, is three years old. When we got him and began our name search, my wife decided that we should name him after one of the lesser known characters in my books, since he was, in effect, our sidekick. Well, since he's a Japanese Chin, and all of ten pounds, we considered Oliver, and as his rather strange personality became apparent, the name stuck.

The following year we lost one of our cats, who had become Oliver's best friend, and I replaced him with a gift to my wife on her birthday: another Japanese Chin. This one is even smaller and possessed of a personality that can be quite devious. His name is Artemis.

The following year, to pay me back for the curse of Artie, my wife woke me up at 4:30 on my birthday in January 2005. "Just trust me and follow me," she instructed and in a few minutes we were on the road heading for Boston's Logan Airport. When I saw that we were going to Pittsburgh, I got excited, as my beloved Patriots were playing in the AFC Championship game against the Pittsburgh Steelers that very weekend. In fact, one of our Boston sportscasters was sitting on the plane not far from us.

But no, we were going to see the Japanese Chin breeder, who met us at the airport with yet another of the little beasties. This one's the biggest and the toughest, a snarling fiery beast named Ivan (Bouldershoulder). Go figure.

Q: Oliver deBurrows, highwayhalfling, is one of the funniest characters you've come up with in my opinion. Where did his accent come from? Oliver deBurrows, highwayhalfling, is one of the funniest characters you've come up with in my opinion. Where did his accent come from?

-Sean S., Portland, OR RAS: Ah, Oliver again. Truly he's one of my favorite characters ever, and so much fun to write. In the very broadest terms, I consider him a cross between Inigo Montoya of Ah, Oliver again. Truly he's one of my favorite characters ever, and so much fun to write. In the very broadest terms, I consider him a cross between Inigo Montoya of The Princess Bride The Princess Bride and the little French guy on the wall in and the little French guy on the wall in Monty Python's Holy Grail Monty Python's Holy Grail. There's your accent-sort of a Gascon-Cockney cross, with a few Crimson-Shadow-world idiosyncrasies thrown in for good measure. If anything draws me back to this world, it'll be Oliver, that's for certain. I love the little guy, and miss him dearly.

Q: You wrote the Crimson Shadow trilogy early in your writing career and I have often heard that it helped you when you wrote Demon Wars and the Drizzt novels. What was the biggest thing you learned from writing the Crimson Shadow trilogy that reflects on your later works? You wrote the Crimson Shadow trilogy early in your writing career and I have often heard that it helped you when you wrote Demon Wars and the Drizzt novels. What was the biggest thing you learned from writing the Crimson Shadow trilogy that reflects on your later works?

-Andy G., Austin, MN RAS: I wrote the Crimson Shadow at the same time I was cutting my teeth on the early Drizzt and Cleric Quintet books. I wanted to create my own world more fully than I had in my previous original series, the Chronicles of Ynis Aielle and the Spearwielder's Tale, both of which were intricately attached to our world. I wrote the Crimson Shadow at the same time I was cutting my teeth on the early Drizzt and Cleric Quintet books. I wanted to create my own world more fully than I had in my previous original series, the Chronicles of Ynis Aielle and the Spearwielder's Tale, both of which were intricately attached to our world.

Unfortunately at that time, my writing schedule was such that I simply didn't have the time I needed to fully flesh out the world. So I focused on the characters most of all in Crimson Shadow.

But I did get a taste of what was involved in creating my own world, my own Forgotten Realms or Shannara or Middle-earth. This series began the process, truly.

Q: Have we heard all there is from Luthien and Oliver? Might there be more to their tale? Have we heard all there is from Luthien and Oliver? Might there be more to their tale?

-Tom C., Bellflower, CA RAS: I purposely left the ending of I purposely left the ending of The Dragon King The Dragon King with possibilities for sequels. I fall for my characters (those that survive). I always want to go back and see what they're up to. Right now, my contractual obligations prevent a peek at the pair, but I never say never. with possibilities for sequels. I fall for my characters (those that survive). I always want to go back and see what they're up to. Right now, my contractual obligations prevent a peek at the pair, but I never say never.

I did consider an Oliver book, but I have to tell you, he's a hard character to write. I started a file on my computer called "Good Stuff," and every time I come up with something ridiculous that Oliver might say, I add it to the note pile. When I get enough . . .

As for further exploring the world without these guys, I don't expect it. One caveat is that this world might roll into another, larger one that I've created, and if that's the case, then of course we'll see much more on the history of the place.

Q: What role does fantasy literature play in today's world? What role does fantasy literature play in today's world?

-Jeremy J., Boiling Springs, SC RAS: The short answer is that fantasy literature plays the same role as the rest of literature. To expand on that, today's fantasy genre is wildly diverse, and with many authors writing for many different reasons. It would be wrong of me to speak for all of them, and I'm hardly qualified to do so. The short answer is that fantasy literature plays the same role as the rest of literature. To expand on that, today's fantasy genre is wildly diverse, and with many authors writing for many different reasons. It would be wrong of me to speak for all of them, and I'm hardly qualified to do so.

For me, fantasy can fill several roles. First and foremost is the joy of escapism. As Peter Beagle beautifully explained in his intro to the Tolkien books many years ago, "escapism" isn't a bad word.

Fantasy can also reinforce a sense of right and wrong, for its heroes are most often men and women of conviction who have a belief in something larger than themselves. And in fantasy, of course, one hero can often make a difference, can throw Sauron's ring into Mount Doom or slay the dragon that has terrorized the countryside. That goes back to the first role of fantasy as well, because isn't it wonderful to feel like you're in a world where you can actually make a difference?

Without going too deeply into the psychology of the genre, fantasy can also deliver comfort on a higher level. There's something very spiritual about a world where not everything can be explained by science, where magic is real.

I had a fellow at a convention telling me that my audience had grown up over the last nineteen years and, thus, my books should grow up with them. He wanted them to have more "adult" themes and situations. I got the feeling he was talking about sexual situations here. (Of course, after listening to his complaint, I asked him if he had read my Demon Wars novels, and he said he hadn't.) Here's the thing of it for me; here's the reason I write fantasy: There is no better genre for getting young people to fall in love with reading. For all the reviews and all the heartfelt stories of a reader feeling a personal affinity for one of my characters, or for someone telling me that Oliver helped him through a bad time in his life, the letters that I most enjoy are the ones from teenagers that begin, "I never read a book until . . ." or from the parent of a teen, saying, "I couldn't get my son/daughter to read until I gave him/her one of your books." That for me is the ultimate high. Tolkien did that for me during my freshman year of college. His books literally changed my life and got me into serious reading, and not because they unlocked the mysteries of the universe to me. No-they did it because they reminded me how wonderful an adventure in a book could be.

I wouldn't want to be an English teacher in a high school today. Between the video games, AIM, message boards, and all the rest, the competition for a kid's time is fierce and unrelenting. So how do you get a kid to actually sit down and read a novel? There's only one answer: Give him a novel that he enjoys. My experience has shown me that among teens, fantasy has the highest reader retention rate by far. Helping turn teenagers on to reading is something this genre is almost uniquely poised to do.

BOOKS BY R. A. SALVATORE.

Forgotten Realms Book Series Book Series

Author of more than 20 novels including:

The Crystal Shard

Homeland

The Two Swords

Promise of the Witch King

DemonWars Series

The Demon Awakens

The Demon Spirit

The Demon Apostle

Mortalis

Ascendance

Transcendence