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"I am convinced that we seek different ends to our confrontation with the dwarf’s party," Sydney explained, "and thus I have no intention of destroying a present, and potentially future, ally"

In spite of his ever-suspicious nature, Entreri fully understood the logic in her line of reasoning He recognized many of his own characteristics in Sydney Ruthless, she let nothing get in the way of her chosen path, but she did not stray fro her feelings He released her ar into the eht "Does Dendybar believe that ill need it to defeat the dwarf and his companions?"

"My master leaves little to chance," Sydney answered "Bok was sent to seal Dendybar’s claiainst unexpected trouble froainst you"

Entreri carried her line of thinking a step farther "The object the wizard desires must be powerful indeed," he reasoned

Sydney nodded

"Tee, perhaps"

"What do you iry that Entreri would question her loyalty to Dendybar

The assassin’s assured soleainst unexpected troublefrom you"

Sydney stammered but could not find the words to reply She hadn’t considered that possibility She tried logically to dismiss Entreri’s outlandish conclusion, but the assassin’s next remark clouded her ability to think

"Siriic of his assumptions slapped her in the face How could she think herself above Dendybar’s h her, but she had no intention of searching for the ansith Entreri standing next to her "We must trust in each other," she said to him "We must understand that we both benefit fro"

"Send the golem away then," Entreri replied

An alar to instill doubt in her e in their relationship?

"We do not need the thing," he said "We have the girl And even if the coth to take ant" He returned the e’s suspicious look "You speak of trust?"

Sydney did not reply, and started again for their camp Perhaps she should send Bok away The act would satisfy Entreri’s doubts about her, though it certainly would give hiainst her if any trouble did coht also answer sohed upon her, the questions about Dendybar

The next day was the quietest, and the ht with her turolem’s presence She had come to the conclusion that she should send Bok away, if for no better reason than to prove to herself her ns of her struggle with interest, knowing that he had weakened the bond between Sydney and Dendybar enough to strengthen his own position with the young e Now he sin his companions

Likewise, Catti-brie kept her eye out for more opportunities to cultivate the seeds she had planted in Jierdan’s thoughts The snarls that she saw the soldier hide from Entreri, and frorand start

Theyday If Entreri had any doubts left about his decision to join the Hosttower’s party, they were dismissed when he considered the enorical steeds, they had covered nearly five hundred miles in four days And in the effortless ride, the absolute ease in guiding their mounts, they were hardly hen they arrived in the foothills of the mountains just west of the enchanted city

"The river Rauvin," Jierdan, at the front of the party, called back to theuard post"

"Pass it by," Entreri replied

"No," Sydney said "These are the guides across the Moonbridge They will let us pass, and their aid will make our journey into the cityup the trail behind them "All of us?" he asked incredulously

Sydney hadn’t forgotten the goleht up to theer needed Return to Dendybar and tell hioes well"

Catti-brie’s eyes lit up at the thought of sending theanxiety Watching hie to this unexpected turn By disave more credence to the fears of an alliance between Sydney and Entreri that Catti-brie had planted upon the soldier

The goleo!" Sydney demanded She saw Entreri’s unsurprised stare from the corner of her eye "Damn you," she whispered to herself Still, Bok did not move

"You are indeed perceptive," she snarled at Entreri

"Reolem "We shall stay in the city for several days" She slipped down from her seat and stomped away, humbled by the assassin’s wry smile at her back

"What of the et us to Silverymoon, no more," Sydney replied, and even as the four walked away down the path, the shilow, then were gone altogether

They had little trouble getting through the guard post, especially when Sydney identified herself as a representative of the Hosttower of the Arcane Unlikeon paranoia in their fears of outsiders, Silvery walls and lines of wary soldiers The people of this city looked upon visitors as an enhancement to their culture, not as a threat to their way of life

One of the Knights of Silver, the guardsmen at the post on the Rauvin, led the four travelers to the entrance of the Moonbridge, an arcing, invisible structure that spanned the river before the ers crossed tentatively, uncomfortable for the lack of visible h they found theical city Their pace unconsciously slowed, caught under the infectious laziness, the relaxed, contemplative atmosphere that dissipated even Entreri’s narrow-visioned intensity

Tall, twisting towers and strangely shaped structures greeted thele architectural style dominated Silverymoon, unless it was the freedom of a builder to exercise his or her personal creativity without fear of judgement or scorn The result was a city of endless splendors, not rich in counted treasures, as were Waterdeep and Mirabar, its two hbors, but unrivaled in aesthetic beauty A throwback to the earliest days of the Realh roo sodom, Silverymoon existed in open defiance of the conquerors and tyrants of the world, a place where no one held claiood races walked freely here and without fear, down every road and alleyway on the darkest of nights, and if the travelers passed by so word, it was only because the person was too profoundly engaged in meditative contemplation

"The dwarf’s party, is less than a week out of Longsaddle," Sydney h the city "We o?" Entreri asked, feeling out of place The values that obviously took precedence in Silverymoon were unlike those of any city he had ever encountered, and were co world

"Countless inns line the streets," Sydney answered "Guests are plentiful here, and are welco the companions, once they arrive, shall prove difficult indeed," Jierdan groaned

"Not so," Sydney replied wryly "The dwarf comes to Silverymoon in search of information Soon after they arrive, Bruenor and his friends will es, the most reknowned library in all the north"

Entreri squinted his eyes, and said, "And ill be there to greet them"