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My dear Do over seductively to put her long fingers on the wererat leader’s shoulders "Can you not see the ain to our alliance?"

"I see Basadonisinto my sewers," Domo Quillilo replied with a snarl He was in human form now, but still carried characteristics-such as the way he twitched his nose that see to a rat "Where is the old wretch?"

Artemis Entreri started to respond, but Sharlotta shot hi him to follow her lead The assassin sat back in his chair, more than content to let Sharlotta handle the likes of Do Do a partnership with an even greater ally, one whom Domo would not wish to cross"

The wererat’s eyes narrowed dangerously; he was not accusto threatened "Who?" he asked "Those sh our sewers?"

"Kobolds?" Sharlotta echoed with a laugh "Hardly thee of our new ally’s forces"

The wererat leader pulled away from the woman, rose out of his chair, and strode across the rooht had occurred in the sewers and sub-basement of the Basadoni House He knew that it concerned many kobolds and the Basadoni soldiers and also, so his spies had told him, some other creatures These were unseen but obviously powerful, with cunning ics and tricks He also knew, simply from the fact that Sharlotta still lived, that the Basadonis, some of them at least, had survived Domo suspected that a coup had occurred with these two, Sharlotta and Entreri,it They claih Domo wasn’t sure he believed that, but had admitted that Kadran Gordeon, a friend of Domo’s, had been killed Unfortunately, so said Sharlotta, but Do to do with it

"Why does he speak for the oldtoward Entreri, and with more than a bit of distaste in his tone Domo held no love for Entreri Feererats did since Entreri had endary of their clan in Cali and wicked fellow named Rassiter

"Because I choose to," Entreri cut in sharply before Sharlotta could intervene The woman cast a sour look the assassin’s way, then e as she turned back to Domo "Artemis Entreri is well skilled in the ways of Calimport," she explained "A proper emissary"

"I am to trust him?" Domo asked incredulously

"You are to trust that the deal we offer you and yours is the best one you shall find in all the city," Sharlotta replied

"You are to trust that if you do not take the deal," Entreri added, "you are thus declaring war against us Not a pleasant prospect, I assure you"

Doain as he considered the assassin, but he was respectful enough, and wise enough, not to push Arteain, Sharlotta," he said "You, me, and old man Basadoni" With that, the wererat took his leave with two Basadoni guards flanking hi him back to the subbasement where he could then find his way back into his sewer lair

He was hardly gone before a secret door opened on the wall behind Sharlotta and Entreri, and Jarlaxle strode into the room

"Leave us," the drowthat he wasn’t overly pleased with the results

Sharlotta gave another sour look Entreri’s way and started out of the room

"You performed quite admirably," Jarlaxle said to her, and she nodded

"But I failed," Entreri said as soon as the door closed behind the wo to us," Jarlaxle said to hiuilds that they are in no danger, I will have completed my first order of business"

"And then trade can begin between Calimport and Menzoberranzan," Entreri said dra his arain of Menzoberranzan"

"All to the profit of Bregan D’aerthe," Jarlaxle corrected

"And for that, I am to care?" Entreri bluntly asked

Jarlaxle paused for a long moment to consider the roup who fear that you do not have the will to carry this through," he said, and though thetone into his voice, Entreri understood the practices of the dark elves well enough to recognize the dire implications

"Have you no heart for this?" thethe most influential pasha ever to rule the streets of Calie and treasures"

"And I will yawn in their ugly faces," Entreri replied

"Yes, it all bores you," Jarlaxle reoals and desires, thrown them away Why? Is it fear? Or is it si left to attain?"

Entreri shifted unco ti, but to hear another verbalize the emptiness within him struck him profoundly

"Are you a coward?" Jarlaxle asked

Entreri laughed at the absurdity of the re from his chair in a full attack upon the drow He understood Jarlaxle’s techniques and knew that he would likely be dead before he ever reached the taunting mercenary, but still he seriously considered the move Then Jarlaxle hit him with a preemptive strike that put him back on his heels

"Or is it that you have witnessed Menzoberranzan?" he asked

That was indeed a huge part of it, Entreri knew, and his expression showed Jarlaxle clearly that he had struck a nerve

"Huhts of Menzoberranzan hu," Entreri corrected, his voice full of force and venorand a scale"

"Ah, and you know it to be a stupidity that mirrors your own existence," Jarlaxle remarked "All that Artemis Entreri strove to achieve he found played out before hirand scale in the city of drow"

Still sitting, Entreri wrung his hands and bit his lip, edging closer, closer, to an attack

"Is your life, then, a lie?" an unperturbed Jarlaxle went on, and then he sent a verbal dagger flying for Entreri’s heart "That is what Drizzt Do’Urden claimed to you, is it not?"

For just an instant, a flash of seething rage crossed Entreri’s stoic face, and Jarlaxle laughed loudly "At last, a sign of life fron of desire, even if that desire was to tear out h and lowered his voice "Many of my companions do not think you worth the trouble," he admitted "But I know better, Artemis Entreri We are friends, you and I, and reatness before you, if only I can show you the way"

"You speak foolishness," Entreri said evenly

"That way lies through Drizzt Do’Urden," Jarlaxle continued without hesitation "That is the hole in your heart You , because your pride will not allow you to go on with any other facet of your life until that business is settled"

"I have fought hi "Never do I wish to see that one again"

"So you may profess to believe," Jarlaxle said "But you lie, to me and to yourself Twice have you and Drizzt Do’Urden battled fairly, and twice has Entreri been sent running"

"In these very sewers he was mine!" the assassin insisted "And would have been, had not his friends co Mithral Hall it was he who proved the stronger"

"No!" Entreri insisted, losing his cale for just a moment "No I had him beaten"