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PART ONE

LEGACY OF INTRIGUE

By the ti tower, Jarlaxle had already secured the em in an undetectable place: an extra-dined to shield ical emanations Even so, the draasn&039;t confident that the item would rey

Still, he took it with hi his familiar waistcoat would have been more conspicuous - when he went to the palace-tower of Ilnezhara soon after the collapse of the Zhengyi construction He found his e in one of her many easy chairs, her feet up on a decorated ottoh slit in her white silk gown that hostly extension of the crea, thick blond hair as Jarlaxle made his entrance, so that it fra one of her blue eyes, only adding to her aura of mystery

Jarlaxle understood that it was all a ruse, of course, an illusion of nificent beauty For Ilnezhara&039;s true forreat horns and aas the drow&039;s arm Illusion or not, however, Jarlaxle certainly appreciated the beauty reclining before hion-turned-woman stated, not asked

"Indeed it would see off his wide-brimmed hat to reveal his bald head as he dipped a fancy bow

"It was," Ilnezhara stated with all certainty "We have traced its creation while you were away"

"Away? You mean inside the tower I ay at your insistence, please remember"

"It was not an accusation, nor e preate My sister happened upon some more information quite by accident and quite unexpectedly Still, we do not kno this construct was facilitated, but we kno, of course, that it was indeed facilitated, and we knohoreat and ancient tome," Jarlaxle replied

Ilnezhara started forward in her chair but caught herself There was no denying the sparkle of interest in her blue eyes, so the drow let the tease hang in the air He stood cal aIlnezhara&039;s interest

"Produce it then"

"I cannot," he adic of the book and controlled by the power of a lich To defeat the latter, Artemis and I had to destroy the former There was no other way"

Ilnezhara winced "That is unfortunate," she said "A book penned by Zhengyi would be , beneficial and profitable"

"The tower had to be destroyed There was no other way"

"Had you killed the lich, the effect would have been the same The toould have died, if not fallen, but no ainst you Perhaps iven the tower to you and Entreri as an expression of our gratitude"

Despite the empty promise, there was on&039;s voice, Jarlaxle noted

"An easy task?" he replied, letting his voice drip with sarcasm

Ilnezhara harrumphed, waved her hand disabalus, a fool nahten the great Jarlaxle? Perhaps my sister and I overestimated you and your hue in life, perhaps, but a lich is a lich, after all"

Again, the dragon harruic-user at most - many of his fellow students considered him a novice Even in the undead state, he could not have proven too formidable for the likes of you two"

"The tower itself was aiding in his defense"

"We did not send you two in there to destroy the place, but to scout it and pilfer it," Ilnezhara scolded "We could have easily enough destroyed it on our own"

"Pray do, next ti Jarlaxle that he would be wise to take more care

"If we do not benefit from your services, Jarlaxle, then we do not need you," Ilnezhara warned "Is that truly the course you desire?"

A third bow came her way "No, milady No, of course not"