Page 9 (1/2)
DREAMERS
Entreri rocked his chair up on two legs and leaned back against the wall He sipped his wine as he watched the interaction between Jarlaxle and Coht the drow out specifically, Entreri knew froh it was obvious to hi to appear as if she had not She wasn&039;t dressed in her armor, nor in any uniform of the Army of Bloodstone, and seemed quite the lady in her pink dress, subtly striped with silvery thread that shiray vest cohtly fitted to enhance her womanly charms She carried no weapon - openly, at least - and it had taken Entreri a few nize her when first he&039;d spotted her a crowd Even on the field when she had arrived in full arht her attractive, but now he could hardly pull his eyes fros it bothered him more than a little When had he ever before been distracted by such things?
He studied her movements as she spoke to Jarlaxle, the way she leaned forward, the way her eyes widened, sparkling with interest A sned and helpless, spread across the assassin&039;s face and he briefly held out his glass in a secret toast to his dark elf coruff voice asked, and Entreri looked to the side to see a pair of dirty dwarves staring back at hi one of the three empty chairs
"Have the whole table," Entreri bade theulp then slipped fro the back wall He took a roundabout route so as to not interrupt Jarlaxle&039;s conversation
"Well met to you, Colass of wine to her
"And now you will clainize me, I expect"
"You underestiood lady," said the drow "In a full-face helular beauty"
Ellery started to respond but rocked back on her heels for just an instant
Jarlaxle did well to rin
"There are questions I would ask of you," Ellery began, and her voice gained urgency when the drow turned away
He spun right back, though, holding a second glass of wine he had apparently found waiting on the bar He held it out to the wolanced around suspiciously Hoas it that the second glass of wine had been waiting there?
Yes, I knew you would come to me, Jarlaxle&039;s smile clearly revealed when Ellery accepted the drink
"Questions?" the drow proasted woman a few moments later
Ellery tried to play it caled to dribble a bit of wine froht herself quite the clod while wiping it
"I have never h I have seen a pair fro a reputation for herself in Daood or for ill"
"I have heard ued by the reputation offroain "You do not appear so fore of all"
"Are you a warrior or a wizard?"
"Of course," the drow said as he took another sip
The woman&039;s face crinkled for a brief moment "It is said that drow are masters of the arts martial," she said after she recovered "It is said that only the finest elf warriors could do individual battle against the likes of a drow"
"I expect that no elves who sought to prove such a theory are alive to confirm or deny"
Ellery&039;s quick smile in response clued Jarlaxle in to the fact that she was catching on to his wit - afor most surface dwellers
"Is that a confirmation or a boast?" she asked
"It just is"
A wicked sain, you do not look so fore?"
"It just is"
Jarlaxle held out his glass and Ellery tapped hers against it "Some day, perhaps, you will happen upon me in Vaasa and have your answer," Jarlaxle said "My friend and I have found some success in our hunts out there"
"I have noted your trophies," she said, and again her eyes scanned the drow head to toe
Jarlaxle laughed aloud He quieted quickly, though, under the intensity of Ellery&039;s stare, her bright eyes boring into his
"Questions?" he asked
"Many," she answered, "but not here Do you think that your friend will be well enough without you?"
As she asked, both she and Jarlaxle turned to the table in the back corner, where the drow had left Entreri, only to find that he was gone
When they looked back at each other, Jarlaxle shrugged and said, "Answers"
They left the bustle of Muddy Boots and Bloody Blades behind, Jarlaxle following the woated the myriad corridors and hallways of the wall coh the roo toward the door at the rear of the chale to see behind the desks, and he spotted a small chest
He made a note of that one
The door led the pair into another corridor A right turn at a four-way intersection led them to another door
Ellery casually fished a key out of a small belt pouch, and Jarlaxle watched her curiously, his senses s Had the warrior wo way to walk for the answers to a few questions," he rerabbed a nearby torch and took it with her into the next chaht several others
Jarlaxle&039;s snize the purpose of the room Duets lined the far wall Several racks were set here and there, all sporting wooden replicas of various weapons
Ellerysword She studied it for a ht it in one hand and sent it into an easy swing
Ellery drew out a second blade and lifted a wooden shield
"No such shield for le, Ellery tossed the second sword his way "I have heard that your race favors a two-bladed fighting style"
Jarlaxle caught the tossed blade with the edge of the first wooden sword, breaking its fall, balancing it, then sending it into a controlled spin
"So blades of equal length"
A flick of his wrist sent the second sword spinning skyward, and the drow i his re one foot behind his other ankle and assu a casual pose on the planted blade
"Myself, I prefer variety," he added with estion in his tone
As he finished, he caught the dropping second blade in his free hand
Ellery eyed hiaze to the weapons&039; rack "Is there another you&039;d prefer?"
"Prefer? For?"
The woman&039;s eyes narrowed She strapped the shield onto her left arm, then reached over and dreooden battle-axe from the rack
"My dear Lady Ellery," said Jarlaxle, "are you challenging me?"
"I have heard so many tales of the battle prowess of your race," she replied "I will know"
Jarlaxle laughed aloud "Ah yes, answers"
"Answers," Ellery echoed
"You presume much," said the drow, and he stepped back and lifted the two blades before hiht and balance He sent the one blade over the other, then quick-thrusting the second He retracted the blades i the battle with you?"
Ellery let the axe swing easily at the end of her arm "Are you not curious?" she asked
"About what? I have already seen far too many human warriors, male and feain, then paused and offered a coy glance at Ellery "And I ae your mind"
"Doubtful"
"Do you fear to know the truth?"
"Fear has nothing to do with it You brought me here to satisfy your curiosity, notof myself to you, for your sake You will reveal your battle prowess at the reward of satisfying your curiosity For htened and stared at him sourly
"The chance to win," she said ameans little," said the drow "Pride is a weakness, don&039;t you know?"
"Jarlaxle does not like to win?"
"Jarlaxle likes to survive," the drow replied without hesitation "That is not so subtle a difference"
"Then what?" Ellery asked, i into her tone
"What?"
"What is your price?" she demanded
"Are you so desperate to know?"
She stared at him hard
"A lady of your obvious charms should not have to ask such a question," the drow said
Ellery didn&039;t flinch "Only if you win"
Jarlaxle cocked his head to the side and let his eyes roam the woman&039;s body "When I win, you will take me to your bedchamber?"
"You will not win"
"But if I do?"
"If that is your price"