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By late , he had covered most of the perimeter, and had ventured into the city four separate times, and with still a lot of wall yet to scout He al convinced that Dahlia had indeed departed, as Lord Draygo had hinted
"I would never have thought you foolish enough to return here, unless it was at the head of an army," a voice whispered from behind him barely a few heartbeats after he had convinced himself to continue his last look around
Effron froze in place, plotting spell coet away or to strike out hard, for he knew that voice, and more importantly, he knew the diabolical truth behind it
"Co, we need not be enemies," the red-haired woman said
"Yet I remember your presence in the ranks of e that day," Effron reminded her
"Well, I didn’t say I would let you conquer my city," the woman replied "Have you returned with such intentions? If so, please do tell that I ht be done with you now"
"You underestimate my skills"
"You know the truth of ard her She seemed so plain and calm, nondescript, even She exuded motherhood at that moment, and it occurred to Effron that he wished he had been blessed with such a , so would turn out well …
The twisted warlock laughed at himself and shook that notion away This was Arunika Arunika was a devil, a succubus froentle red-haired wohtly freckled face An ordinary citizen of Neverwinter, just going about her daily chores as any good hu Barrabus and that sword," Arunika remarked
It occurred to Effron that perhaps she didn’t know everything after all
"What do you know of him?" Effron asked "And of his co not to sound too obvious
"Why would I tell you?"
Effron ran his good hand between his horns and scratched at his purple hair It was a good question, he had to admit
"I have information you ish to hear," Effron offered a few moments later
"Do tell"
"Well, that is the whole point, isn’t it?"
Arunika laughed at him "I’ve already established that I know that you know"
"Not that, devil"
"I should kill you for torturing my imp," Arunika remarked "Not for the sake of the imp, of course, but because of the breach of protocol Invidoo is my property, and so I demand recompense Tell me your secret, twisted warlock"
"I will," Effron promised "And you tell "
"But what har me? Surely you don’t hold any loyalty to Barrabus the Gray, and certainly not to his coer Indeed, should Drizzt learn the truth of Arunika, he would chase you from the land"
Her expression revealed her unpleasant surprise at that thinly veiled threat "Then I should ht betray that secret Is that your point?"
Now Effron laughed, but it was an unco," the twisted warlock said "Nor Barrabus and the other, Dahlia You witnessed the fight on the bridge when Herzgo Alegni was driven from this land Effron is no friend to those three, I assure you But I haveseveral lords ould not take well your threats against me Beware, succubus, else you tempt the wrath of Netheril"
Arunika stared at hi so very appealing about this creature
"But there is no need for any of this," Effron insisted "We are not enemies, or should not be Netheril will not return to Neverwinter We have no reason to care, with the Thayan threat destroyed"
"Netheril was here before there was a Thayan threat to Neverwinter," Arunika reh," Effron admitted "Our as in the forest, and indeed, wethe city It is not our place It brings unwanted attention So there, that is my secret, offered in friendship"
"And offered before you exacted your de the proper road to find Barrabus and his companions," Effron replied "And ould you not? Should they return to Neverwinter, they’ll not befriend Arunika, and should they ever determine the truth of your identity, they will seek to destroy you So what do I ask of you that will not benefit you?"
Arunika laughed again "I do so enjoy the play of mortals," she said "With their foolish iacy that will not last, no matter how many they kill"