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Wrapped in a blanket, his robes hanging on the ed wizard sneezed repeatedly, spraying those around hiot Deuderht in the face when the captain caive to you one Harkle Harpell of Longsaddle," Drizzt said to Deudermont Harkle extended his hand, and the blanket fell away from him The skinny wizard scrambled to retrieve it, but was too late
"Get this one a meal," Catti-brie snickered from behind "Suren he could use a bit o’meat on that bum"
Harkle blushed a deep red Robillard, who had alreadyhis head and suspecting that exciting tis you here," Deudermont asked, "so far from shore, on the open seas?"
Harkle looked to Drizzt "I ca somewhat perturbed when the drow made no move to answer for him
Drizzt eyed him curiously
"I did!" protested the wizard "On your word" He spun about to regard Catti-brie "And yours!"
Catti-brie looked to Drizzt, who shrugged and held his hands out to the sides, having no idea of what Harkleabout
"Oh, well, well, well, a fine ’hello,’ I suppose," the exasperated wizard stah I hoped a drow elf would have a longer ain after a century? Couldn’t remember his name, could you? Oh, no, no That would be tooabout?" Drizzt had to ask "I re, too!" Harkle roared "Or I would really be nantly in the air, and the sound sobered hihly confused, as though he had forgotten what in the world he was talking about
"Oh, yes," Harkle said at length and looked straight at Drizzt The wizard’s stern expression soon softened to one of curiosity
"What are you talking about?" Drizzt asked again, trying to prompt Harkle
"I do not know," the wizard adht you out here," Deuderain "The spell, of course!" he said happily
Deuderan slowly, trying to find a path that would garner soe
"Not ’a’ spell," Harkle retorted "The spell My new spell, the fog of fate"
"The fog of fate?" Deuderan excitedly "Expedites things, you know Get on with your life and all that Shows you where to go Puts you there even, I think But it doesn’t tell you why" The wizard moved one hand up to tap at his chin, and his blanket slipped down again, but he didn’t seem to notice "I should work on that part Yes, yes, then I would knohy I was here"
"Ye’re not even knowin’?" Catti-brie asked, and she faced the rail, even leaned over it somewhat, so she wouldn’t have to look at Harkle’s bony buttocks
"Answering an invitation, I suppose," Harkle replied
Catti-brie’s expression was purely doubtful, as was Drizzt’s
"It’s true!" Harkle protested veheet Shouldn’t say things you don’t mean, I say! When you, both of you"-he looked frosaddle six years ago, you ht cross once more ’If ever you find yourself near to us’ That is exactly what you said!"
"I do not-" Drizzt began, but Harkle waved him silent, then rushed to the oversized pack he had carried with hi on the deck His blanket slipped down farther, but the wizard was too consumed by his task to notice Catti-brie didn’t bother to look away, she just snickered and shook her head
Harkle pulled a small flask from his pack, retrieved his blanket for modesty’s sake, and bounced back over to stand before Drizzt Snapping his fingers defiantly in the air before the drow, the wizard popped off the cork
From the flask came a voice, Catti-brie’s own voice "If you ever find yerself near to us," she said, "do look in"
"So there," Harkle said in superior tones as he plopped the cork back into place He stood for a long mo "And just where are we?" the wizard asked, turning to Deuderer, and Drizzt could offer only a shrug in reply "Co the wizard toward his cabin "And I will get you some proper clothes to wear until your robes have dried"
When the tere gone, Catti-brie, walked back over to her friend Robillard stood not so far away, glaring at theht until we can be rid of our cargo," the wizard said
"Harkle will try to help," Catti-brie replied
"Pray hard," Robillard muttered and walked away
"You should be more careful of what you say," Drizzt remarked to Catti-brie
"Could have been yer own voice just as well aswoht"