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It took some effort for Drizzt to spot the panther The island of Mintarn, four hundred miles southwest of Waterdeep, was cloaked in thick trees, and Guenhwyvar was perfectly blended, reclining on a branch twenty feet froht under the cat, never realizing its doo deer this day The Sea Sprite had put into port barely two hours before, flying no flag, no colors at all, and with her name covered by tarps The three-h, for she was unique along the Sword Coast, andthe free port had run from her in the past So it was that Drizzt, Catti-brie and Deudermont had been approached soon after they had entered the Freemantle, a tavern just off the docks

Now they waited for their contact, half expecting an ambush in the thick woods barely a hundred yards from the town common

There and then, Deudermont could truly appreciate the value of such loyal and powerful friends With Drizzt and Catti-brie,

and ever-alert Guenhwyvar keeping watch, the captain feared no aainst him! Without these three around him, Deudermont would have been terribly vulnerable Even Robillard, undeniably powerful but equally unpredictable, could not have afforded the captain such comfort More than their skill, Deudermont trusted in these three for their loyalty They’d not desert him, not one of them, no matter the risk

Guenhwyvar’s ears flattened and the panther gave a lol, a sound the other three felt in their bellies rather than heard with their ears

Drizzt went into a low crouch and scanned the region, he pointed east and north, then slipped into the shadows, silent as death Catti-brie moved behind a tree and fixed an arrow to Taul- She tried to follow Drizzt’stheone It seemed he had sirowth As it turned out, she didn’t need Drizzt’s uide, for their visitors were not so adept at traveling silently and invisibly through the woods

Deudermont stood calmly in the open, his hands folded behind his back Every now and then he brought out one hand to adjust the pipe that hung in his mouth He, too, sensed the proxi up positions in the woods about hi here," came an expected voice from the shadows The speaker, a tinyout from under his bowl-cut brown hair, had no idea that he had been spotted twenty steps from his current position, which was still more than a dozen yards from the captain He did not know that his seven companions, too, were known to Drizzt and Catti-brie, and especially to Guenhwyvar The panther was aherself close enough to get to four of the le leap

Off to the speaker’s left side, one of his coht his o up, putting an arrow in line with the woman He heard a rustle, but before he could react, a dark forave a short yelp, fell back, and saw the forest green of a cape swish past Then the for the man stunned and unhar Deuder from several positions

"I’htening hi to understand what that pass had been about He figured it out when he at last looked back to his bow and saw that the bowstring had been cut "Da the brush frantically

"I a with shadows," Deudermont called out clearly, his voice unshaken

"You are not alone," the speaker replied

"Nor are you," Deudermont said without hesitation "So do come out and let us be done with this business-whatever business youca voice told the speaker, a o talk to the Sea Sprite’s captain

At last, Dunkinone step and looking all around, then another step and looking all around He walked right under Guenhwyvar and didn’t know it, which brought a smile to Deudermont’s lips He walked within three feet of Drizzt and didn’t know it, but he did spot Catti-brie, for the wo no real effort to conceal herself behind the tree just to the side of the sht hard to regain his conity He walked to within a few paces of the tall captain and straightened hi here," he said in a voice that cracked only once

"It wasthat Mintarn was a free port," Deuders only?"

Dunkin pointed a finger and started to reply, but the words apparently did not suffice and he stopped after uttering only a runt

"I have never known of any restrictions placed on vessels desiring to dock," Deudermont went on "Surelyno colors and with her nah Fully two-thirds of all the vessels that put into the free port did so without any open identification

"You are Deudermont and your ship is the Sea Sprite, out of

Waterdeep," Dunkin said, his tone accusing He tugged at his ear as he spoke, a nervous tick, the captain reasoned

Deudered and nodded

"A law ship," Dunkin went on, finding soo of his ear "Pirate hunter, and here, no doubt, to-"

"Do not presume to know my intentions," Deudermont interrupted sharply

"The Sea Sprite’s intentions are always known," Dunkin retorted, his voice equally firm "She’s a pirate hunter, and yes, there are indeed pirates docked in Mintarn, including one you chased this very week"

Deuderrew stern He understood that this man was an official of Mintarn, an emissary from his tyrancy, Tarnheel E Mintarn in line with its reputation as a free port quite clear to all the lords along the Sword Coast Mintarn was not a place to settle vendettas, or to chase fugitives

"If we came in search of pirates," Deudermont said bluntly, "the Sea Sprite would have co of Waterdeep, openly and without fear"

"Then you admit your identity," accused Dunkin

"We hid it only to prevent trouble for your port," Deudermont replied easily "If any of the pirates now in Mintarn Harbor sought retribution, ould have had to sink them, and I am certain that your overlord would not approve of so many wrecks under the waves of his harbor Is that not exactly why he sent you to find me in the Freemantle, and why he bade you to coain seemed to not be able to find the words to reply

"And you are?" Deuderhtened oncehis station "Dunkin Tallmast," he said clearly, "emissary of His Tyrancy, Lord Tarnheel Embuirhan of the free port of Mintarn"

Deudermont considered the obviously phoney name This one had probably crawled onto Mintarn’s docks years ago, running fro, or from the law, and over tiuard Dunkin was not a great choice, as an emissary, Deuder on courage But the captain refused to underestimate Tarnheel, reputably a proficient warrior who had kept the relative peace on Mintarn fordiplomat, but Tarnheel had probably decided that he would be the one to meet with Deudermont for a reason, possibly to make the Sea Sprite’s captain understand that he and his ship were not considered very iae with any pirates," Deuderht be in hiding on Mintarn We have come to take on provisions, and in search of infor not pleased

"About an island," Deuderain his tone made the question seem more of an accusation

Deudermont pulled the pipe fro the question without uttering a word

"It is said that nowhere in all the Reals be found than on Mintarn," Deuderend as truth, an island known to h tales, but to only a few by experience"

Dunkin didn’t reply, and didn’t see about

"I will make you a deal," the captain offered

"What have you to bargain with?" Dunkin replied quickly

"I, and all of my creill remain on the Sea Sprite, quietly, and far out in the harbor Thus will the peace of Mintarn re any on your island, even known outlaws, butthe Sea Sprite vulnerable while in port"

Dunkin couldn’t help but nod Back in the Free that several of the ships now in port were not pleased to see the Sea Sprite, and ainst her

"We will reain, "and you, Dunkin Tallmast, will find for me the information I desire" Before Dunkin could respond, Deuderold coins "Caerwich," the captain explained "I want a map to Caerwich"

"Caerwich?" Dunkin echoed skeptically

"West and south, by tales I’ve heard," Deuderave a sour look and moved to toss the coins back, but Deudermont raised a hand to stop him "The Lords of Waterdeep will not be pleased to learn that Mintarn’s hospitality was not extended to one of their ships," the captain was quick to point out "If you are not a free port for the legal ships of Waterdeep, then you proclaim yourself an open haven only to outlaws Your Lord Tarnheel will not be pleased at the results of such a proclamation"

It was as close to a threat as Deuderet, and he was htly once more

"I will speak with his tyrancy," the short o at that, waving his hand

Deudermont popped the pipe back into his , her bow relaxed, all arrows replaced in her quiver She never blinked as she walked past Dunkin, and he h, when Drizzt slipped out of the brush to the side And if the sight of a drow elf wasn’t enough to fully unnerve the man, surely the sudden presence of a six-hundred pound black panther dropping to the ground barely five feet to Dunkin’s side, was

Dunkin rowed out to the Sea Sprite the very next day Despite the fact that Deuderh he was in awe of this vessel that was so fast becoreeted Dunkin on the open deck, in full view of the crew Guenhwyvar was at rest in her astral home, but Robillard and Harkle joined the others this ti Perhaps Robillard, an adept wizard, could keep Harkle’s powers under control, the drow reasoned And perhaps Harkle’s perpetual srumpy Robillard!

"You have ht to the point The Sea Sprite had sat calm and undisturbed thus

far, but Deudermont held no illusions about their safety in Mintarn Harbor The captain knew that no less than a dozen ships now in port desired their demise, and the sooner the schooner was out of Mintarn, the better

Dunkin motioned to the door to the captain’s private quarters

"Out here," Deuderone I’ve not the time for any delays, and I need no privacy fro no desire to debate the point

"The information?" Deudermont asked

Dunkin started, as if surprised "Ah, yes," he stuttered "We have a map, but it’s not too detailed And we cannot be sure, of course, for the island you seek end, and then, of course, there would be no correct map"

His humor was not appreciated, he soon realized, and so he calold," Deuder pause

"His tyrancy wishes a different payold"

Deudererously He put his pipe in hisso difficult," Dunking was quick to assure "And my lord offers more than a simple map You’ll need a wizard or a priest to create a hold large enough to carry a an arm over Robillard’s shoulders as he spoke, then quickly withdrawing it upon seeing the gru scowl

"Ah, yes, but no need, no need," Dunkin blurted "For his tyrancy has a ive it to you on loan, along with the old, which was not so much, and one other little favor"

"Speak it," dea to Drizzt

Only Drizzt’s quick reaction, lifting a blocking ar the man

"Him?" Deudermont asked incredulously

"Just tothat he was treading on dangerous ground here The water was cold about Mintarn and theswim back to shore

"A curiosity piece?" Catti-brie snapped, pushing against Drizzt’s blocking ar for yer stupid tyrant!"

"No, no," Dunkin tried to explain He never would have gotten the words out of histhe see voice that revealed no offense taken

"Explain your lord’s desire," the drow said quietly

"Your reputation is considerable, good drow," Dunkin sta into Mintarn speak of your exploits Why, the main reason that the Sea Sprite has not been" He stopped and glanced nervously at Deudermont

"Has not been attacked in Mintarn Harbor," Deudermont finished for him

"They wouldn’t dare co back to Drizzt "My lord, too, is a warrior of no s as to co

"Just a contest," Dunkin finished "A private fight"

"For no better reason than to prove who is the better," Drizzt replied distastefully

"For the map," Dunkin reminded him "And the chest, no sht, he added, "You will have those whether you win or lose"

Drizzt looked at Catti-brie, then to Deuder no effort any intently to every word

"Let us be done with it," the drow said

Catti-brie grabbed him by the arm, and when he turned to face her, he realized that she did not approve

"I cannot ask you to do such a thing," Deudermont said

Drizzt looked at him directly, and with a shter is no less than Tarnheel’s," he said, looking back to Catti-brie, who knew him and knew his motivations better than that

"Is it any different than your own fight with Berkthgar over Aegis-fang before the dark elves cah, Catti-brie had to adar had threatened to break the alliance with Bruenor unless the dwarf turned Aegis-fang over to hione to Settlestone and had ended the debate by defeating Berkthgar in the challenge of single coht of that o of Drizzt’s ar Dunkin to the rail, and then into the small boat

Deudermont, Catti-brie, and most of the other crewmen, watched them roay, and Catti-brie noticed the sour expression on the captain’s face, as though Deuder woht," she assured the captain

"He is driven by curiosity?" Deuder more Drizzt is bound by friendship to ye and to the crew, and if a siainst the ht But there’s no curiosity in Drizzt No stupid pride He’s not for caring who’s the better at swordplay"

Deuder woman’s words confirmed his belief in his friend

The minutes turned into an hour, then into two, and the conversation on the Sea Sprite gradually shifted away from Drizzt’s confrontation to their own situation Two ships, square-riggers both, had sailed out of Mintarn Neither had gone out into the open sea, but rather, had turned into the wind just beyond the harbor, tacking and turning so that they remained relatively still

"Why don’t they just drop their anchors?" Waillan asked a creas standing near him on the poop deck, just behind the Sea Sprite’s deadly ballista

Catti-brie and Deudermont, near the center of the ship, overheard the remark and looked to each other Both knehy

A third ship put up her lower sails and began to drift out in the general direction of the Sea Sprite

"I’ this," Catti-brie remarked