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"I, too, choose hts with care," Entreri whispered into her ear

The nextfound Entreri outside a place he did not want to enter: the Hosttower of the Arcane He knew that he was running out of options Convinced now that the co since left Luskan, the assassin needed soain It had taken hi in Ten-Towns, and his patience earing thin

Catti-brie reluctantly but obediently at his side, he approached the structure, and was promptly escorted to Dendybar’s audience hall, where the reet him

"They have left the city," Entreri said bluntly, before any exchange of greetings

Dendybar smiled to show Entreri that he had the upper hand this tio," he replied calmly

"And you knohere they are," Entreri reasoned

Dendybar nodded, the s into his hollow cheeks

The assassin didn’t enjoy the ga his counterpart, searching for some hint of the wizard’s intentions Dendybar did likewise, still very much interested in an alliance with the formidable killer - but only on favorable terms

"The price of the information?" Entreri asked

"I do not even know your nah, the assassin thought He bowed low "Arteh to speak truthfully

"And why do you seek the cohter in tow?" Dendybar pressed, playing his hand out to give the cocky assassin so to worry about

"That isof his eyes the only indication that Dendybar’s knowledge had perturbed him

"It is mine, as well, if we are to be allies in this!" shouted Dendybar, rising to stand tall and oh, cared little for the wizard’s continuing antics, too engrossed in assessing the value of such an alliance "I ask nothing of your business with theth "Tell me only which one of the four it concerns"

It was Dendybar’s turn to ponder He wanted Entreri in his court, if for no other reason than he feared having the assassin working against him And he liked the notion that he would not have to disclose anything about the artifact that he sought to this very dangerous e of where I can find it," he said "I want it back"

"And the halfling is mine," Entreri demanded "Where are they?"

Dendybar saddle," she said "And are headed to Silverymoon, more than teeks to the east"

The nalad that her friends had a good lead She needed tih she wondered how effective she could be surrounded by such powerful captors

"And what do you propose?" Entreri asked

"An alliance," replied Dendybar

"But I have the inforain in an alliance with you?"

"My powers can get you to the them They are not a weak force Consider it of mutual benefit"

"You and I on the road? You seem more fitted to a book and a desk, wizard"

Dendybar locked an unblinking glare on the arrogant assassin "I assure you that I can get wherever I desire rowled He let go of his anger quickly, though, beingbusiness "But I shall reo in my stead, and Jierdan, the soldier, will be her escort"

Entreri did not like the idea of traveling with Jierdan, but he decided not to press the point Itthe hunt with the Hosttower of the Arcane He agreed to the ter to Catti-brie

"She goes with reed Dendybar "No purpose in wasting such a valuable hostage"

"We are three against five," Sydney reasoned "If things do not work out as easily as the two of you seeoes!" demanded Entreri

Dendybar had the solution already worked out He turned a wry smile at Sydney "Take Bok," he chuckled

Sydney’s face drooped, at the suggestion, as though Dendybar’s command had stolen her desire for the hunt

Entreri wasn’t sure if he liked this new develop the assassin’s discomfort, Dendybar motioned Sydney to a curtained closet at the side of the rooot there, the hint of a treht feet tall and three wide at the shoulders, the e man, it seemed, and indeed the wizard had used pieces of huer and iant, and had been th beyond the olem," Dendybar proudly explained "My own creation Bok could kill us all right now Even your fell blade would be of little use against it, Artemis Entreri"

The assassin wasn’t so convinced, but he could not completely mask his intimidation Dendybar had obviously tipped the scales of their partnership in his own favor, but Entreri knew that if he backed away fro the ainst him, and in direct competition with him for the dwarf’s party Furthermore, it would take him weeks, perhaps even months to catch the travelers by noret there faster

Catti-brie shared the sahts She had no desire to travel with the gruesoe she would find when she finally caught up to Bruenor and the others if Entreri decided to break away from the alliance

"Fear not," Dendybar coht, for, you see, Bok has no olem answers to my commands, or to Sydney’s, and would walk into a fire to be consumed if we merely asked it to do so!"

"I have business to finish in the city," Entreri said, not doubting Dendybar’s words and having little desire to hear any ht would be best," reasoned Dendybar "Coreen outside the Hosttohen the sun is down We shall et you on your way"

Alone in his chaolem’s muscled shoulders with deep affection Bok was his hidden truainst the resistance of the companions, or the treachery of Artemis Entreri But Dendybar did not part with the monster easily, for it played a powerful role, as well, in protecting him from would-be successors in the Hosttower Dendybar had subtly but definitely passed along the warning to other wizards that any of theainst him would have to deal with Bok, even if Dendybar were dead

But the road ahead , and the Master of the North Spire could not forsake his duties and expect to hold his title Especially not with the Arch for any excuse to be rid of hiers of Dendybar’s outspoken aspirations to the central tower

"Nothing can stop you, my pet," Dendybar told thehis own fears about his choice to send the inexperienced e in his stead He didn’t doubt her loyalty, nor Jierdan’s, but Entreri and the heroes froiven you the hunting power," Dendybar explained, as he tossed the scroll tube and the now-useless parchment to the floor "The drow is your purpose and you can now sense his presence from any distance Find hiuttural roar issued fro instru

Entreri and Catti-brie found the wizard’s party already asseht

Jierdan stood alone, off to the side, apparently none too thrilled about partaking in the adventure, but having little choice The soldier feared the golem, and had no love, or trust, for Entreri He feared Dendybar ers on the road did not ers he would face at the hands of the o

Sydney broke away from Bok and Dendybar and walked across the way to s," she offered, more interested in appeasement now than competition with her formidable partner "Dendybar prepares our mounts The ride to Silverymoon shall be swift indeed!"

Entreri and Catti-brie looked to thean unrolled parchment out in viehile Dendybar poured a smoky liquid from a beaker over a white feather and chanted the runes of the spell

Ainto so with a definite shape Dendybar left it to its transformation and moved to repeat the ritual a short way off By the tiical horse had appeared, the wizard was creating the fourth and final one

Entreri raised his brow "Four?" he asked Sydney "We are now five"

"Bok could not ride," she replied, amused at the notion "It will run" She turned and headed back toward Dendybar, leaving Entreri with the thought

"Of course," Entreri muttered to himself, somehow less thrilled than ever about the presence of the unnatural thing

But Catti-brie had begun to view things a bit differently Dendybar had obviously sent Bok along e over Entreri than to ensure victory over her friends Entreriit, the wizard had set up just the type of nervous environht find a way to exploit