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LaValle walked to his private suite in the guild house late that uaine Dog Perry was supposed to attend, and he was the one LaValle truly wanted to see, but Dog had sent word that he would not be co erous Entreri
In truth, theto caluildmaster wanted reassurances that Entreri wouldn’t uaine, in theman, promised to defend Quentin with his life This LaValle knew to be an obvious lie LaValle argued that Entreri wouldn’t work that way, that he would not co all of Quentin’s ties and associates and hoerfully the uild
"Entreri is never reckless," LaValle had explained "And the scenario you fear would indeed be reckless"
By the time LaValle had turned to leave, Bodeau felt better and expressed his senti Perry, or soerous man It would never be that easy, LaValle knew, but he had kept the thought silent
As soon as he entered his roo rooht, bedroom directly behind, and an alchemy lab and library to the left, the wizard felt as if so Perry to be the source of the trouble-the h surely subtly, accused him of the intent to side with Entreri should it come to blows
Had thewith Quentin? Was he still here, hiding, crouched eapon in hand?
The wizard looked back at the door and saw no signs that the lock-and the door was always locked-had been tripped, or that his traps had been defeated There was one other way into the place, an outside , but LaValle had placed sotheh would have been shocked with lightning, burned three different tied to survive the hout this entire level of the guild house, bringing soldiers by the score
Reassured by siic and by a defensive spell he placed upon his body to make his skin resistant to any blows, LaValle started for his private study
The door opened before he reached it, Arte calmly within
LaValle did well to stay on his feet, for his knees nearly buckled eakness
"You knew that I had returned," Entreri said easily, stepping forward and leaning against the jamb "Did you not expect that I would pay a visit to an old friend?"
The wizard co back at the door "Door or ?" he asked
"Door, of course," Entreri replied "I knoell you protect your s"
"The door, as well," LaValle said dryly, for obviously he hadn’t protected it well enough
Entreri shrugged "You still use that lock and trap combination you had upon your previous quarters," he explained, holding up a key "I suspected as much, since I heard that you were overjoyed when you discovered that the items had survived when the dwarf knocked the door in on your head"
"How did you get a-" LaValle started to ask
"I got you the lock, reuild house is well defended by no soldiers known by Arteuild house has its secret leaks," the assassin quietly replied
"But my door," LaValle went on "There arewere other traps"
Entreri put on a bored expression, and LaValle got the point
"Very well," the wizard said,for the assassin to follow "I can have a fine meal delivered, if you so desire"
Entreri took a seat opposite LaValle and shook his head "I came not for food, merely for information," he explained "They know I auilds know," LaValle confirh my crystal ball as, I am sure, have many of the wizards of the other pashas You have not exactly been traveling from shadow to shadow"
"Should I be?" Entreri asked "I came in with no enemies, as far as I know, and with no intent to hed at the absurd notion "No enemies?" he asked "Ever have you made enemies The creation of enemies is the obvious side product of your dark profession" His chuckle died fast when he looked carefully at the not-a that he was erous man in all the world
"Why did you scry ed and held up his hands as if he didn’t understand the question "That is uild," he answered
"So you inforuildmaster of my return?"
"Pasha Quentin Bodeau ith e came into the crystal ball," LaValle admitted
Entreri merely nodded, and LaValle shifted uncomfortably
"I did not knoould be you, of course," the wizard explained "If I had known, I would have contacted you privately before infor Bodeau to learn your intent and your wishes"
"You are a loyal one," Entreri said dryly, and the irony was not lost on LaValle
"I make no pretensions or promises," the wizard replied "Those who know me understand that I do little to upset the balance of power about hted his side of the scale the matic survivor," Entreri said "Yet did you not just tell me that you would have informed me had you known? You do make a promise, wizard, a pro that pro ht Perhaps your loyalty cannot be trusted"
"Ito find a way out of the logic trap He knew beyond a doubt that Entreri would try to kill him if the assassin believed that he could not be trusted
And he knew beyond a doubt that if Entreri tried to kill him, he would be dead
"Your hted the scale in their favor," he explained "Thus, I would never willingly go against you"
Entreri didn’t respond other than to stare hard at theLaValle shift unco little ti LaValle, broke the tension, though, and quickly "Tell uild in its present incarnation," he said "Tell me of Bodeau and his lieutenants and how extensive his street network has become"
"Quentin Bodeau is a decent man," LaValle readily complied "He does not kill unless forced into such a position and steals only from those who can afford the loss But uilds, perceive this couild has suffered under his reign We are not as extensive as hen Pook ruled or when you took the leadership frouild’s area of influence, and the assassin was indeed surprised at how es Streets that had once been ithin Pook’s domain were far out of reach now, for those avenues considered borderlands between various operations were uild house
Entreri hardly cared for the prosperity or weakness of Bodeau’s operation This was a survival call and nothingfor the current layout of Caliht not inadvertently bring the wrath of any particular guild down upon him
LaValle went on to tell of the lieutenants, speaking highly of the potential of young Chalsee and warning Entreri in a deadly serious tone, but one that hardly see Perry
"Watch hi the assassin’s al Perry was beside me e scried you, and he was far from happy to see Artemis Entreri returned to Calimport Your mere presence poses a threat to hih price as an assassin, and not just for Quentin Bodeau" Still garnering no obvious response, LaValle pressed even harder "He wants to be the next Arteht a chuckle fro Perry’s abilities to fulfill his dream or one of any flattery Entreri was a Perry hardly understood that which he sought, for if he did, he would turn his desires elsewhere
"He may see your return as more than an inconvenience," LaValle warned "Perhaps as a threat, or even worseas an opportunity"
"You do not like him," Entreri reasoned
"He is a killer without discipline and thus hardly predictable," the wizard replied "A blindarrow If I knew for certain that he was co after me, I would hardly fear him It is the often irrational actions of the man that keep us all a bit worried"
"I hold no aspirations for Bodeau’s position," Entreri assured the wizard after a longPerry Thus you will show no disloyalty to Bodeau by keeping me informed, wizard, and I expect at least thatPerry comes after you, you will be told," LaValle pro Perry was an upstart, a young hopeful who desired to strengthen his reputation with a single thrust of his dagger But LaValle understood the truth of Entreri, the assassin knew, and while the wizardPerry, he would find himself truly terrified if ever he learned that Artemis Entreri wanted hi the paradox of his reputation Because of his years of work, ht seek to kill hiainst him and indeed would work for hie to kill him, then LaValle’s loyalty to Entreri would co assassin
To Artemis Entreri it all seemed so perfectly useless