Page 1 (1/2)

Suljack, one of the five high captains ruling Luskan and a former commander of one of the most successful pirate crews ever to terrorize the Sword Coast, was not easily intimidated An extrovert who typically bellowed before he considered his roar, his voice often rang loudest a council Even the Arcane Brotherhood, who many knew to be the true power in the city, were hard-pressed to cow him He ruled Ship Suljack, and cos froe, in the south central section of Luskan It was not a showy or grand place, certainly nothing to h Captain Taerl&039;s four-spired castle, or High Captain Kurth&039;s hty tower, but it ell-defended and situated comfortably near the residence of Rethnor, Suljack&039;s closest ally a the captains

Still, Suljack found hiround as he walked into the room in Ten Oaks, the palace of Ship Rethnor The old man Rethnor wasn&039;t there, and wasn&039;t supposed to be He spoke through what seeest of his three sons

But Suljack knew that appearances could be deceiving

Kensidan, a sray and black tones, and well-grooles and clips, sat with a leg crossed over one knee in a comfortable chair in the center-back of the plain rooh-collared black cape, and high black shoes that tied tightly halfway up his calf He walked with an aard gait, stiff-legged like a bird Put that together with his long, hooked nose, and any who saw hio, before he&039;d first donned the high-collared cape Any ic in that garic, and such itees on their bearer As with the renowned girdle of dwarvenkind, which gradually imparted the characteristics of a dwarf to its wearer, so too Kensidan&039;s cloak seerew a bit er and more hooked

His muscles were not taut, and his hands were not calloused Unlike many of Rethnor&039;s men, Kensidan didn&039;t decorate his dark brown hair He carried nothing flashy at all on his person Furthermore, the cushions of the seat made him appear even smaller, but somehow, inexplicably, all of it seemed to work for him

Kensidan was the center of the roo in to hear his every soft-spoken word And whenever he happened to twitch or shift in his seat, those nearest hilanced nervously around

Except, of course, for the dho stood behind and to the right of Kensidan&039;s chair The dwarf&039;s burly ar lines of corded muscles broken by the black, beaded braids of his thick beard His weapons stabbed up diagonally behind hilassteel chains No one wanted a piece of that one, not even Suljack Kensidan&039;s "friend," recently ihts along the docks that had left any and all opposing hi they were

"How fares your father?" Suljack asked Kensidan, though he hadn&039;t yet pried his eyes froerous dwarf He took his seat before and to the side of Kensidan

"Rethnor is well," Kensidan answered

"For an old man?" Suljack dared remark, and Kensidan merely nodded

"There is a rumor that he wishes to retire, or that he already has," Suljack went on

Kensidan put his elbows on the arether, and rested his chin upon them in a pensive pose

"Will he announce you as his replaceer man, barely past his mid-twenties, chuckled a bit at that, and Suljack cleared his throat

"Would that eventuality displease you?" asked the Crow

"You know me better than that," Suljack protested

"And what of the other three?"

Suljack paused to consider that for a ed "It&039;s not unexpected Welcoh captains live well, and don&039;t wish to upset the balance"

"Their aain Suljack shrugged and said lightheartedly, "Isn&039;t enough ever enough?"

"No," Kensidan answered siain Suljack found hilanced around at the many attendants then dismissed his own Kensidan did likewise - except for his dwarf bodyguard Suljack looked past the seated man sourly

"Speak freely," Kensidan said

Suljack nodded toward the dwarf

"He&039;s deaf," Kensidan explained

"Can&039;t hear a thing," the dwarf confirmed

Suljack shook his head What he , he told hi after the brotherhood?"

Kensidan sat expressionless, emotionless

"There are more than a hundred wizards who call the Hosttower home," Suljack announced

No response, not a whit

"Many of thees"

"You presuular mind," said Kensidan finally

"Arklem Greeth holds them fast"

"No one holds a wizard fast," Kensidan replied "Theirs is theof professions"

"Some say that Greeth has cheated death itself"

"Death is a patient opponent"

Suljack blew out a frustrated sigh "He consorts with devils!" he blurted "Greeth is not to be taken lightly"

"I take no one lightly," Kensidan assured hied to calm himself "I&039;m wary of them, is all," he explained more quietly "Even the people of Luskan know it now, that we five high captains, your father a us, are puppets to theunder his thu over the prow of ht be that it&039;s time to take back the wheel"

"Past time And all we need is for Arklem Greeth to continue to feel secure in his superiority He weaves too many threads, and only a few need unravel to unwind his tapestry of power"

Suljack shook his head, clearly less than confident

"Thrice Lucky is secured?" Kensidan asked

"Mai, yes Is he to meet with Lord Brambleberry of Waterdeep?"

"He knohat he is to do," Kensidan replied

Suljack scowled, understanding that to mean that Suljack need not know Secrecy was power, he understood, though he was far too e

It hit Suljack then, and he looked at Kensidan with even ht of thetoward him Kensidan had many pieces in play, and no one saw th Everyone around hi sand, while he was rooted in bedrock

"So it&039;s Deuderin weaving the young man&039;s threads into some sensible pattern He shook his head at the irony of that possibility