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"I’!" he retorted, and sharply, ht, at least she had gotten some emotion out of the fool

"Is my lesson over?" she asked with equal sharpness

"Perhaps un," Drizzt said with clear lament "This is more complicated than you understand When you are older--"

"Drizzt Do’Urden," she interrupted, co his way, "hear me well You have known seven years for my every one, but in so many ways, I am older than you, likely lanced around, looking for the right word, and wound up justdramatically for the room’s bed "--I am more experienced and more rational"

"Your ear studs speak differently," he said quietly

"I hosts," she replied, and she stor it hard behind her

She fingered the black diaht ear, the last stud in that lobe, and realized that she ht soon find her mortal battle with the drow she had just left behind

That hy she had chosen hi last, Dahlia had found a lover ould alive her peace

Strangely, though, Dahlia felt little comfort in that notion Drizzt had pulled away fro to When he told her that he didn’t want to hurt her, he spoke sincerely, she knew

But still …

Dahlia’s striking blue eyes were moist when she left the inn, and more than one tear had streaked her delicate cheeks

Dahlia walked into the tavern with a sour look on her face, not expecting to find her prey, since she had already visited several of these establishments in this area of Baldur’s Gate Truly the city overwhelmed the elf’s sensibilities She had been to Luskan several tirown up in the cities of Thay, and had even visited hty Waterdeep on one occasion, but now that she was exploring Baldur’s Gate, the energy and commotion of the place overwhelmed her

She certainly had no idea of just how many taverns and inns and assorted emporiums, often with apartments up above, would line every street When she and Drizzt had broken away fro Arte an ordeal

So she entered the tavern expecting nothing, her hopes sinking to emptiness

The crowd parted before her, a coincidental shift in two separate groups of merchant sailors offered her a wider view of the place, and there he was, sitting alone at a small table in the far corner of the room

Dahlia hesitated--he hadn’t seen her, she believed--and she considered her course There would be no turning back now, she reminded herself

She strode across the room One man popped up in front of her, offered a wicked sry expression, but she eased hi stick, and when he resisted, she froze him with a look so cold that the blood drained from his face

No one else intercepted her

Entreri took note of her and leaned back in his chair

"I the seat across froine Where’s Drizzt?"

"I do not know, and I do not care"

Entreri gave a little laugh "After a month at sea? And with more months at sea before us? I would have expected you two to … catch up"

"More months at sea before us?" Dahlia scoffed

Entreri looked at her as if he didn’t understand

"You said that Baldur’s Gate would be your last stop," Dahlia re to Luskan with Minnow Skipper"

Entreri shrugged as if it didn’t lass and took a deep s

"So you are continuing on with us to Luskan?"

"I didn’t say that"

Dahlia sighed at the lanced around, irritated almost as much as she had been when she left Drizzt back in the roohed, drawing her gaze back to him

"No server," he explained, and ht "Bar’s over there"

"Well, go buy me some feywine"

"Unlikely"

Dahlia started to glare at hi i patrons One started to protest, even to threaten her, but he looked past her--to Entreri, she realized--and he bit his words short and fell far back Indeed, Entreri knew this city well, and it, apparently, knew him

Soon after, Dahlia returned to the table with two full bottles of feywine and a pair of glasses

"Planning a late night?" Entreri asked

"Let’s play a game"

"Let’s not Go play with Drizzt"

"Are you afraid?"

"Of what?"

"Of losing towhat?"

"Your superior attitude, perhaps"

Entreri laughed at her as she poured thelass in toast, and the assassin reluctantly followed suit and tapped the goblets together He took just a sip, though, and Dahlia realized that she had put hiuard, which was most decidedly not what she had in mind