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"It could as easily have been us he engulfed, in streahed and had no words to reply They turned to the door of Deudermont’s cabin, where the captain stood with Harkle, about to enter
"So that was the fog of fate you cast at our pirate friends, eh?" Deuder to sound impressed
"Huh?" Harkle answered "That? Oh, no, no, that was a fireball I a those!" The Harpell paused and lowered his eyes, following Deudermont inside "Except that I aimed too low," Harkle admitted quietly
Catti-brie and Drizzt looked to each other, then to Robillard "Pray," all three whispered in unison
Drizzt and Catti-brie dined privately with Deuder more animated than he had since they had put out froize for Harkle’s arrival several tihts away, even hinted that he was not so upset about the Harpell’s arrival
Finally Deuderoatee with a satin napkin and stared hard at the two friends, who fell silent, understanding that the captain had so important to tell them
"We are not in this area by chance," Deuder to Baldur’s Gate," reasoned Drizzt, who had suspected all along The Sea Sprite was supposedly running to Baldur’s Gate, but Deuder close to the coast, the more direct route, the safer route, and the route ain there ensued a long pause, as though the captain had to settle things in his ownwest for Mintarn," Deudermont said
Catti-brie’s jaw dropped open
"A free port," Drizzt reminded, and warned The island of Mintarn had a well-earned reputation as a haven for pirates and other fugitives, a rough and tuht the Sea Sprite, the hunter of justice, be received in such a port?
"A free port," Deuderreed "Free for pirates and free for the Sea Sprite, in need of information"
Drizzt didn’t openly question the captain, but his doubting expression spoke voluiven the Sea Sprite over to me completely," Deudermont said, somewhat harshly "She’s my ship, under my word alone I can take her to Mintarn, to the Moonshaes, all the way to Ruathym, if I so please, and let no one questionby the harsh words and surprised that Deudermont, who had professed to be his friend, had so treated hiht of the drow’s disappointment "My pardon," he said quietly
Drizzt ca his elbows on the table to bring himself closer to Deudermont "Caerwich?" he asked
Deuderer spoke of Caerwich, and so to Caerwich I ht into a trap?" Catti-brie put in "Going right where they’re wanting ye to go?"
"Who?" Deuderer," Catti-brie reasoned
"Who?" Deudered "Pinochet?" she queried "Or hten it be some other pirate that’s had his fill o’ the Sea Sprite?"
Deuderain, as did Drizzt, all three sitting in silence for several long moments "I cannot, nor do I believe that you can, continue to sail up and down the Sword Coast as though nothing at all has happened," the captain explained Drizzt closed his lavender eyes, expecting this answer and agreeing with the logic "Sos are neither common nor cheap, desires my demise and the end of the Sea Sprite, and I intend to find out who it ht, nor has o to Caerwich may disembark in Mintarn and catch a sail back to Waterdeep, paid by o," Catti-brie admitted
"Yet we do not even know if Caerwich truly exists," Drizzt remarked "Many clai erated by drink or by bluster"
"So we must find out," Deudermont said with a tone of finality Neither Drizzt nor Catti-brie, both willing to face trouble head-on, offered a word of disagree that your wizard friend arrived," the captain went on "Another wizard knowledgeable in the h this ed doubtful looks; Captain Deudermont obviously didn’t know Harkle Harpell! They said noof the ship and crew Deudero to Mintarn, so Drizzt and Catti-brie would follow
After the meal, the two friends strolled out onto the nearly-deserted deck of the schooner, walking under a canopy of brilliant stars
"Ye were relieved at the captain’s tale," Catti-brie remarked
After a ht the attack in Waterdeep had to do with yerself, and not with Deudermont or the Sea Sprite," Catti-brie went on
The drow si wos exactly, had read hi that every danger co to the rail and looking over at the reflection of the stars in the rolling waters
"I have made many enemies," Drizzt replied as he joined her
"Ye’ve left theh
Drizzt shared in that chuckle, and had to adht This time, he believed, it wasn’t about hier draer that had followed him every step since his initial departure fro of the past Now, under the stars and with Catti-brie beside him, thousands of miles and many years from Menzoberranzan, Drizzt Do’Urden felt truly free, and carefree He did not fear the trip to Mintarn, or to any mysterious island beyond that, whatever the ruht be Never did Drizzt Do’Urden fear danger He lived on the edge willingly, and if Deudermont was in trouble, then Drizzt was more than ready to take up his scimitars
As was Catti-brie, with her bow, Taulnificent sword, Khazid’hea, always ready at her hip As was Guenhwyvar, ever-faithful couilt could bend his stoic shoulders This tiuilt, no responsibility for the attack and for the Sea Sprite’s chosen course He was a player in Deuder player
He and Catti-brie basked in the wind and the spray, watched the stars silently for hours