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It wasn’t hard for hi, and he followed her movements closely, movements that almost always put her back near Artemis Entreri

Curiously, he didn’t note her retreating to Entreri’s rooether at the table that Entreri had taken as his own in the co, with a feell-chosen words, anyone who ht be there whenever he arrived), huddled over a bottle of Feywine

On one such occasion, the second night after he had learned of Minnow Skipper’s intended roundabout voyage, Effron took a great chance, casting his wraithfor the seams in the wood very near to Entreri’s table to eavesdrop on the pair

They said little as the night passed, and Effron realized that he couldn’t stay er, that his enchanth, he started off, but just then he heard Dahlia whisper to Entreri, "You can’t iht I could," he replied "Isn’t that why you’re here?"

"I think it’s different," she replied "The violation--"

"Don’t begin to suggest that," the ed

"The pregnancy, Iabout the tiuard The Dahlia he kneas brash and angry, and even with Drizzt there was always a hunger in her voice, crude and abrasive But not no there was a deep sobriety, though she had drained a bottle and more of Feywine, and a profound sense of hues of her tone

And of course, the word "pregnancy" had Effron riveted

"Every day re that he would return to me, probably to kill me now that I had done my part to bear hio Alegni, Effron thought

Entreri lifted his glass and tipped it slightly to show his deference

"I hated it and hated him," Dahlia spat "And hated the baby most of all"

"Murderously so," Entreri reh he could only barely see her froht he noted a bit of moisture in her eyes, and indeed, a tear rolled down Dahlia’s cheek

"No," she said, then quickly ad clearly "And I did it, or thought I had"

"The only regret that I have ever known is that I regret when I regret," Entreri said, rather callously, Effron thought "You cannot change what has happened"

"But you can move forward to make amends"

Entreri scoffed at that reht now?" Dahlia accused "Isn’t that why you traveled to Port Llast with us?"

"I wantedher head and now s, and now, too, that the conversation had shifted back to Entreri’s issues, Effron had to take his leave He slipped out of the building into the alleyway and returned to his corporeal for the support of the solid wall to keep hiht

He tried to make sense of the conversation he had overheard, but the mere fact that it was a reference to him, and to that murderous act, had hi sense of desperation

He needed to hear that conversation again, but not between Dahlia and someone else He needed to hear her admit her crime to him, openly, so that he could pay her back violently

But she was going to sail away, for ht well drop her at any port along the way, particularly considering the explosion he foresaeen Dahlia and Drizzt Drizzt would return to Baldur’s Gate, unless Dahlia and Entreri killed hi for them in the north, any more than elsewhere, for they were clearly not possessed of Drizzt’s sense of duty regarding Port Llast

He was going to lose her, perhaps never to regain the trail

And he was so close!

And so it was decided for hiold in his hand Then, his task complete, he hustled for a particular alleyway, a dead end corridor he hadthe route Dahlia would surely take on her return to Drizzt

There were a few people on the rew nervous watching the from foot to foot Would they intervene and stifle his well-laid plans? What was he doing here? Even if he got away, Draygo Quick would be waiting for him on the other end of his shadowstep, and the old wretch would not be amused